European Dust Mites = Dermatophagoides pteroynssinus

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Posted in What Are Dust Mites

The two major species of dust mites were first identified in 1964. The European dust mite is Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The common American dust mite is Dermatophagoides farinae. The proteins contained in the shed shells, dead bodies, and feces of both mite species are quite similar. In tropical regions, the mite Blomia tropicalis (also called the storage mite) also exists.

There is evidence that only limited cross reactivity exists between dermatophagoides pteroynssinus and Blomia tropicalis.   The pteroynssinus prefers a more humid environment than the farinae mite. D. pteroynssinus lays 80 to 120 eggs over a 45 day period while the D. farinae only lays about 30 eggs in a month (or an egg a day). The most important allergenic proteins in D. pteronyssinus are Der p 1 and Der p 2.

D. pteronyssinus has also been reported to play an important role as a trigger factor in patients with atopic dermatitis (as reported in Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2006 14(2):86-9)
The best protection against dermatophagoides pteroynssinus is to seal mattresses and pillows in zippered covers that are imperious to the mite.

Do Dust Mites Bite?

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Posted in Dust Mites
People frequently ask if dust mites bite. They have skin problems associated with their allergies (such as allergic urticaria) and assume that these hives are bites.

Dust mites are 1/100th of an inch in size. Their eating parts are not like ours. They don’t have a mouth with lips, teeth, and tongue. Instead, they have an opening that scoops up the shed bit of our skin and instead of chewing it (the way we chew our food) they secrete a digestive enzyme that begins to break it down and digest their food. So, dust mites don’t have a conventional mouth, they don’t have teeth, they don’t chew, and they don’t bite you!

However, their body parts and feces contain a protein that causes allergic reactions. People with allergies may react in different ways. Some people may have respiratory problems and others show no respiratory
problems but they have hives or eczema. It might be easy to confuse hives with insect bites because they both cause bumps and can itch intensely.  So, what you think are bites can be hivesfrom allergy due to inhaling the dust mite particles and feces.

That is not to say that there are not bugs that can get in your bed and bite at night, but the symptoms will be different.  If you have bed bugs, these creatures actually feed on your blood. They leave a small bump that can itch intensely.  However, hives from allergy will be spread over the body.  Bed bug bites tend to occur in rows of two or three.  Also, if a bug is biting you in bed, you will find small specks of blood on the sheets.  You will not find blood from dust mites.

You can visit an allergist for a skin or blood test to determine if you have dust mite allergy.  Be sure to let the doctor’s office know if you are taking any over the counter or prescribed medications that can interfere with the test.  For example, all antihistamines must be stopped well in advance of testing.

Testing a room for dust mites is a waste of time and energy. They are common and if people are sleeping in a room, it will have dust mites in it.  So, instead of focusing on identification it is important to focus on reducing allergen levels.

The most commonly recommended first step is to encase the mattress, boxspring, and pillows in special zippered fabrics that are impervious to dust mites and dust mite allergens.  In addition dust catching knickknacks should be removed from the room and the sheets, pillows, and blankets should be washed
weekly in 140°F water.  Cooler temperatures will not kill the mites. You can read here for an in-depth article on Allergen Elimination.

Dust mites can make you miserable, but they can’t bite you.

©Copyright 1996-2013 Cee DeeKay,Inc dba AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved

An Allerpet is a Soft Pet

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Posted in What Are Dust Mites
Our daughter was hosting guests in our home this past week.

Several of the guests have allergies to cats, and we have several cats.  But, we weren’t concerned because if there is something we know at The Allergy Store, it is how to take care of pet allergy!

About 3 days before their arrival, we attached the guest bedrooms that would be in use. We thoroughly washed all bedding in Allergen Wash, vacuumed the floor with a HEPA filtered Miele vacuum, turned the Austin Air HealthMate on high and closed the door so no more kitties could visit that room. We sprayed the upholstered furniture in the family room with ADMS Anti Allergen Spray and then rounded up the kitties one by one and began applying Allerpet/C. 

The cats haven’t had an application of Allerpet since the last visit by an allergic guest (that was some time ago) and the sight of the bottle didn’t spoke them. We used the two person approach, one person holds kitty still and calm and the other rubs the cat with the Allerpet/C saturated cloth.  All went well.

Later, my daughter was petting one of the cats and she mentioned how soft its fur felt.  We get so caught up in the anti-allergy properties that we forget that it is a great coat conditioner.
So, allergic guests or not, I see more Allerpet/c in our cats’ future to keep them soft and shiny.
Cheryl

©Copyright 1996-2013 Cee DeeKay,Inc dba AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved

The Truth Behind The Question: Are Dust Mite Sprays Effective

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Posted in Dust Mite SpraysTagged

The reason why dust mites are extremely harmful to people, especially those suffering through allergies, is that they excrete on the mattresses and pillows of people along with carrying out other life functions. The excrements in turn contain harmful proteins that increase and speed up the allergic reactions in patients. Furthermore, the mites love to feed off of dead skin cells which are found in plentiful amounts on beds and their covers. Those looking for an effective way out often end up asking: are dust mite sprays effective?

Chronic headaches, coughing and sneezing, and severe asthma attacks are all symptoms and problems that can occur for allergy sufferers.  A lot of patients fail to recognize the fact that many of their health problems are continuously being caused by dust mites and in doing so, they end up spending  time and money on doctors and medications that maybe they did not need.

What the doctors recommend is to keep the environment of the house clean and hygienic. One should focus on some key areas which are prone to welcoming mites and other insects. These include carpets, bedding, clothes and furniture. After all, the golden rule of curing any problem is to first take steps in preventing its occurrence.

People who opt for the sprays as the solution have the option of choosing from a few that are proven to be effective. The most popular products are manufactured by Alakline Labs. They have been making ADS Anti-allergen Spray for 15 years and ADMS spray for about 8 or 9 years now. Both of these products have been proven to be effective against animal dander, pollen and dust mite allergens.

Moving on, for the mattresses and bedding, there are exclusive cleaning options available. These include in-wash additives which are used during laundry sessions. The use of portable steam cleaners on the mattress is another option. Word of caution, make sure the mattress is dry before covering if you use steam.

Are dust mite sprays effective as allergy control products is a commonly asked question and the answer is yes. However, just like everything else they may be only on part of the solution. dms03

Tips For Dealing With Dust Mites in The House

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Posted in Dust Mites and Asthma

People with allergies, especially to dust mites, need to do a few extra things around the house to limit their exposure.

Keep the bedroom clean and clutter free. Things like extra pillows, drapes and stuffer furniture hold household dust which has dust mite feces in it.

Wash the bedding in hot water or with special laundry additives.

Get rid of the carpets if possible

Keep the pets out

The other thing you can do is talk to your friends and see what they are doing. None of us have all the answers and just because something worked for one person does not mean it will work for another.

Here is another article forwarded to me that has additional information and tips for dealing with allergies. Some it I agree with and some I don’t.  Read Article “5 Secrets To Eliminate Allergy And Asthma Symptoms Caused By Dust Mites“