Allergy to house dust mite - did you already know?

Allergy sufferers react hypersensitively to certain substances occurring in the environment, the so-called allergens. For house dust mite allergy sufferers the starting point for the occurrence of allergy symptoms is the microscopically small house dust mite. It is a harmless natural fellow occupant of humans existing in every room. Main nutrients of house dust mites are shed human skin scales. The food source of house dust mites does not include feathers. For the house dust mites´ growth and reproduction, a special microclimate is necessary: High humidity and environmental temperatures of about 25° degrees Celsius.

Not the mite itself, but the allergens in its secretions lead to extremely unpleasant allergic symptoms - watering eyes, sniffing, coughing and respiratory problems - which may considerably affect the quality of life of allergy sufferers.

Most house dust mites in the domestic area are located first of all in mattresses. Shed skin scales and mites easily penetrate the open-pored fabric of the mattress. They are then dispersed together with the mite allergen, by every move the person who is sleeping makes. House dust mite allergy sufferers are therefore recommended to surround their mattresses completely with a mite-proof encasing.

Also upholstered furniture, carpets, cuddly toys as well as the room air (for instance by dispersion of dust during vacuum cleaning) may also contain larger amounts of the mite allergen.

Feather and down bedding products, do not provide a habitat or food source for house dust mites.1.

1. Jürgens, H. W., Abschlussbericht "Ökologische Untersuchungen zu Hausstaubmilben", 1992