Allergy to mites

Allergy to mites

 : this is how it is managed
They are microscopic and harmless, but not for everyone. The dust mites are in fact responsible for allergies that can be kept under control with the help of the allergist and putting into practice some small trick between the walls of the house.
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They are microscopic and harmless, but not for everyone. The dust mites are in fact responsible for allergies that can be kept under control with the help of the allergist and putting into practice some small trick between the walls of the house.

They hide in the dust, and are so small as to be invisible to the naked eye, but for some their presence can still be really annoying.

They are dust mites, micro-organisms able to trigger allergic reactions, even of an asthmatic type.
Causes and consequences of mite allergy

Unlike seasonal allergies, such as for example in the grass, the allergy to mites is perennial, as it lasts all year round, although usually the symptoms tend to worsen in the fall: in this period it is ignited heating in all homes, thus creating a perfect habitat for the proliferation of these organisms.

The mites to live and multiply in fact prefer environments with temperatures above 20 ° C and humidity percentages over 50%.

To cause the real allergic attack are not the mites as such, but what remains after their decomposition, in addition to substances present in their feces.

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The symptoms are typical of the most common allergic reactions, such as rhinitis (which involves the sensation of itching in the nose, continuous sneezing, etc.), conjunctivitis and eczema.

In the most severe forms, even asthma attacks can occur: almost half of the asthmatic patients suffer from allergies to mites.
Some simple, but useful, precautions

In the home environment, mites tend to colonize mainly beds, sofas and upholstery fabrics such as curtains and carpets, and of course all the furniture on which dust accumulates.

In particular, mattress and pillow are the perfect habitat for mites, thanks to the increase in temperature and humidity that develops with prolonged contact of the body, and the large amount of scales that detach from skin and scalp (food favored by mites) following the rubbing against sheets and pillowcase; that's why often allergy symptoms, especially respiratory ones, are exacerbated during the night.

As with all allergies, the only real solution for not developing any symptoms is avoiding contact with the allergen: in the case of mites, although it is impossible to eliminate them completely, there are some measures that can significantly reduce the concentration in the home environment :

    use "anti-mite" mattresses, pillows and bedclothes, which are impermeable to allergens and breathable;
    change the bed linen a couple of times a week, washing everything at high temperatures to kill the mites (60 ° C)
    eliminate all the furniture and ornaments from the bedroom that can promote the accumulation of dust, using synthetic fabrics for curtains and blankets and removing carpets and rugs from the floor
    for cleaning, to be carried out every day, especially in the bedroom, use damp or electrostatic cloths to avoid dust and vacuum cleaners equipped with Hepa filter (from the English High Efficiency Particulate Air), which allows you to keep inside the small particles, such as allergens
    Frequently ventilate all the rooms in your home and use dehumidifiers to prevent the humidity percentage from increasing
    Keep the temperature of the house below 20 ° C

Drugs and vaccinesAs with other allergies, the diagnosis is performed by a specialist on the basis of the anamnesis, the symptomatology and the results of the prick test or blood tests for the detection of antibodies that reveal the substance responsible for allergic reactions.

Also the drugs to relieve the symptoms are the same prescribed in the case of other allergies, such as antihistamines, decongestants, corticosteroids, bronchodilators, etc., but they are not effective in all patients, especially in cases of asthmatic crises.

In recent years, a new therapeutic frontier, that of immunotherapy, has opened up in the field of allergology: so-called "vaccines" have been developed that can reduce both the symptoms and the use of drugs.

These properties have also recently been demonstrated for a mite vaccine, which does not only decrease isymptoms of allergic rhinitis and the need for corticosteroids, but it also seems to significantly decrease seizuresasthmatic respiratory tract.