So, you are dusting and you are constantly sneezing and you hands are itchy. A half an hour later everything is normal again. Well, you have dust mite allergy and you can consider yourself lucky for having such mild symptoms.
Article continues below
Dust mite allergy is an immune system reaction to, naturally, dust mite. Certain mite proteins trigger inflammation in the nose (we call thatallergic rhinitis), causing sneezing, runny nose and other signs that sometimes can be mistakenly diagnosed as pollen allergy or the common cold.
So, sometimes it's difficult to know do you have a cold or an allergy, but if you have symptoms for more than one week, go and see the doctor. If you have serious symptoms like severe pain, wheezing, if you are short of breath during minimal activity, don't wait one week - go and see the doctor. Your lungs are suffering too much.
Dust mite allergy may be the primary cause of inflammation and contraction of airways of the lungs, resulting in wheezing and other breathing difficulties.
Dust mites, relatives of the spider, are animals too small to see without a microscope. They eat human skin cells and they love to live in warm and humid environments. In most homes, beds, upholstered furniture and carpeting are the ideal environment for those bugs.
Dust mite allergy can range from mild to severe. A mild case of dust mite allergy may cause an occasional runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. In severe cases, the condition is chronic, resulting in persistent sneezing, cough, congestion, or serious asthma attack.
Now, what your doctor will do? If he recognizes that you have an allergy, he will ask you a set of questions: is somebody in your family sensitive to allergies, are you working or living in the place with high levels of dust, and - how old are you.
Age plays an important role here: if you were exposed to dust mites when you were young you will more likely to develop dust mite allergy. Your doctor can also perform an allergy skin test to determine exactly what you're allergic to, and in some cases your doctor will do a blood test searching for specific antibodies connected to dust mites.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely eliminate dust mites from your environment. So, drugs are the next step. Your doctor will prescribe you antihistamines to reduce itching and sneezing, or corticosteroids to inflammation and control symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
It is very important to say that over the counter sprays can be dangerous: if you use some of them for several days your airways can become congested and you know that that is not a good situation.
Here are some other things you can do to make your life easier and reduce your visits to the doctor. Wash all sheets and blankets and bedcovers in hot water at 55 C or higher, that will kill dust mites and remove allergens. Use a vacuum cleaner every day and use one with a HEPA filter to help decrease house-dust emissions from the cleaner. While you are done stay out of the vacuumed room for a half an hour. Buy a dehumidifier and keep relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent in all your rooms. ■