Asthma treatment

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 s where
ventilation is limited and temperatures tend to be warmer.

Egg-laying female mites can increase the population by 25 to 30 every
three weeks. They go through five stages in their life cycle; from egg,
the larvae stage, then two nymphal stages, and finally the adult. The
adult may also molt once. This cycle from egg to the adult takes about
one month. Adult mites can live up to two months, depending on the
humidity levels and temperatures of their environment. They do not drink
water but they absorb moisture from the air and their environment. They
just love higher relative humidities of 70-80% and temperatures of 75-80
degrees F in which their development and food consumption increases.

Dust Mites Produce a Powerful Allergen

It is the protein DER p1 in the faecal products and disintegrating body
parts of these minute dust mites that has a mighty adverse effect on
those who are allergic to it. Dust mites produce about 20 pellets per
day, each measuring about 10 to 24 microns in size. To put that in
perspective, the diameter of the human hair measures 80-100 microns. A
gram of dust can hold 250,000 of these minute droppings. They are so tiny
and light that they float easily into the air when disturbed by our daily
activities. Inhaling these minute particles causes allergic reactions in
those who are sensitive to this protein.

Allergens from the dust mite which cause asthmatic symptoms was first
suggested in 1921 but analysis of dust did not happen until 1964 when a
group led by Voohorst suggested that a mite may be responsible for the
dust allergen. It was soon established that the dust mite droppings
contain an allergen so they became a focus over the years for their
involvement with respiratory ailments. The DER p1 produced by the dust
mite is though to be the most important allergen associated with asthma.
About 10% of the population are allergic to dust mite extracts.

Identifying the Sensitivity to Dust Mite Protein

House dust contains many types of debris, including fabric fibers, human
skin scales, human and animal dander, bacteria, cockroach parts, mold
spores, food particles and other organic and synthetic materials. About
90% of the people who are allergic to house dust extracts are allergic to
dust mite extracts. Symptoms which may come from sensitivities to the
dust mite protein include sneezing, congestion, itchy, watery eyes and
persistently stuffy nose and ears. Symptoms point more specifically to
dust mites when you experience repeated sneezing shortly after awakening,
symptoms get worse when beds are made or when using your vacuum cleaner,
and improve when you are outside. Diagnosis, using scratch tests, etc.,
by an Allergist is recommended to determine which allergens cause
reactions. These doctors who specialize in treating allergies can
recommend a course of action specifically designed to reduce or eliminate
your allergic reactions. This may include steps for reducing exposure to
troublesome allergens, medical therapy and desensitization injections
(Systemic Immunotherapy – SIT). The latter may be recommended if
avoidance and medical therapy fail to sufficiently reduce the allergic
reaction. It involves injections of a dust mite extract starting weekly,
followed by injections every six weeks for three to five years.

Importance of Reducing Exposure to the Dust Mite Allergen

If your family is not sensitive to the dust mite protein DER p1, managing
them may not be a high priority. For those who suffer from it, management
by reducing exposure to the allergen DER p1 is quite important. Two
important aspects which need to be addressed are the removal of
environments which are conducive to dust and dust mites and the reduction
of airborne dust mite droppings and disintegrating body parts. Inhaling
these minute particles causes allergic reactions in those who are
sensitive to this protein.

The exposure level at which you experience allergic reactions is
determined by the sum of exposure to all allergens you’re sensitive to.
Those who are sensitive to multiple allergens find that reduction of
exposure to any of the allergens will help in their tolerance of all the
allergens. It is important to realize that you do not need to completely
eliminate exposure to allergens. Simply keeping your total exposure of
all allergens below the threshold at which you experience reactions is
all that is necessary.

Reducing Exposure to Allergens in Your Bed

Due to the amount of time we spend sleeping the mattress should be
covered with a protector, our bedrooms are the areas which deserve the
most attention. Simply turning over in bed or breathing near your pillow
can cause you to inhale minute dust mite droppings. Using hypo-allergenic
fiberfill pillows is recommended over feather, kapok or foam since they
are more easily washed. Encasing your pillows, mattress and box spring
with plastic or specially coated or finely woven (pore size Due to the
amount of time we spend sleeping the mattress should be covered with a
protector, our bedrooms are the areas which deserve the most attention.
Simply turning over in bed or breathing near your pillow can cause you to
inhale minute dust mite droppings. Using hypo-allergenic fiberfill
pillows is recommended over feather, kapok or foam since they are more
easily washed. Encasing your pillows, mattress and box spring with
plastic or specially coated or finely woven (pore size < 10 microns)
vapor- permeable fabrics will deprive the dust mites of food and prevent
many of the dust mite droppings from reaching you. The fabrics are more
comfortable since they allow perspiration vapor to be more naturally
carried away from your skin. Thorough vacuuming the mattresses,
especially the seams and bed frame on a regular basis is also helpful.
Wash your sheets and mattress pads in soapy water at 130 degrees F every
one or two weeks to kill all mites. Bedding and curtains which can
withstand frequent washing should be selected. Blankets can be dry
cleaned or washed frequently. Using an electric blanket for eight hours
every day can reduce dust mites in beds significantly. Heating blankets
in a cloths dryer for several hours also kills mites. By doing this, dry
cleaning or washing of blankets can be reduced to once a year.

Reducing Exposure to Allergens in All Your Rooms

Wall to wall carpet and upholstered surfaces can be reduced or replaced
with hard surfaces that are easier to clean. Dust mites can not survive
long on hard surfaces due to dehydration. They absorb water through
contact with their environment. Dusting with a ULPA or HEPA filtered
vacuum cleaner or specially treated cloths is recommended over damp
mopping. The latter may increase the humidity in the house. Dust mites
can't live at humidities below 50%. Using air conditioners and
dehumidifiers during the summer to keep the humidity between 40% and 50%
is often recommended. During winter, if using a humidifier, be careful to
keep the humidity in this same range. A good humidity gauge can help
monitor this. Carpets that get damp on a regular basis should be replaced
with hard surfaces.

Having carpets professional cleaned with superheated steam will
effectively killing dust mites in them. Carpets can be treated with
sprays containing 3% tannic acid to make dust mite droppings non-
allergic. Benzyl benzoate powder which actually kills dust mites is also
available. Reduction of contact with dust mite droppings is often
preferred since these contain toxic chemicals which some people are
sensitive to.

Reducing Exposure to Allergens with Air Filters

Wearing a well fitting dust mask while vacuuming and making beds can
reduce the dust mite allergens you inhale. Some allergists even recommend
airing out a room really well after vacuuming to reduce the airborne
particles which are stirred up by many vacuum cleaners. Furnace mounted
and portable air cleaners are available but their cost may be greater
than the benefits achieved by them. They definitely are not a substitute
for the preventative measures described above. The best are media type
filters like those which meet the stringent HEPA specification.
Electrostatic filters are not recommended unless cleaned regularly in
which case they may be as effective. Special filters can be placed on the
furnace air vents leading to your rooms to help trap allergens before
they can enter the room. Air cleaners which generate ozone should be
avoided since they have little effect on allergens in the air and may
worsen allergy symptoms since the ozone may irritate the respiratory
system.

Importance of an ULPA or HEPA Filtered Vacuum Cleaner

The vacuum cleaner is one of the most important tools for managing dust
mites and their minute droppings. Thorough cleaning of carpets,
mattresses, upholstered furniture, curtains and drapery regularly will
reduce the dust mite allergens in your