Allergy to dust mites in children and adults: why it occurs, how it depends on home conditions, symptoms, what to do and how treatment occurs Russian farmer

Allergy to dust mites is a common disease and is often a predisposing factor for the development of bronchial asthma. The natural habitat for these microorganisms is house dust. Dust mites do not belong to the class of parasites and are harmless in themselves. The main danger lies in its excrement, namely, enzymatic substances released during the digestion process, with the help of which food products are broken down.

Food for mites are keratinized skin flakes that are “lost” by humans every day: epidermis, dandruff, etc. In addition to protein enzymes, which act as the main allergen, the chitinous shell of dead animals also causes irritation of the respiratory tract mucosa, but to a much lesser extent. There are three types of allergies, the provocateur of which is an allergen: contact, respiratory, food. Thus, with increased sensitivity to these microorganisms, a whole bunch of diseases can develop: from allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis to atopic dermatitis and Quincke's edema.

Symptoms and signs of allergies

Symptoms of allergy to house dust, or more precisely to excrement and other waste products of dust mites, can have varying degrees of manifestation.

Allergy

Signs of an allergic reaction are:

frequent sneezing and nasal discharge;
inflamed mucous membrane and nasal congestion;
watery eyes, severe itching;
hacking cough;
wheezing in the chest;
severe shortness of breath and suffocation;
redness and burning of the skin;
conjunctivitis;
attacks of bronchial asthma;
Quincke's edema, hypoxia.

Why are house dust mites dangerous?

The dust mite can feed on any organic matter that can decompose, but it especially likes dandruff and dead skin flakes. The pest does not like living epidermis, so small arthropods do not bite and are not at all dangerous from this point of view. And the gnawing mouthparts are not suitable for damaging the skin.

Dust mites cause several types of allergies: food, respiratory, contact. In addition to damaging the nasopharynx and skin, arthropods provoke many diseases:

bronchial asthma;
allergic rhinitis;
conjunctivitis;
all kinds of dermatitis.

It is the skin lesions that are often confused with tick bites. Under the influence of digestive enzymes, minimal exposure to the epidermis causes severe itching, redness and swelling with a small rash. The so-called dust mite bites on the body are shown in the photo.

Rash and irritation on the body, which is often mistaken for a dust mite bite

Thus, neither adults nor their larvae harm humans directly. The main danger lies in the excrement of dust mites, which they excrete at least 20 times a day. Feces contain specific digestive enzymes that corrode the living epidermis and provoke severe allergies.

Interesting. If the concentration of mites does not exceed 100 individuals per gram, then the influence of enzymes is practically unnoticeable. When the number of individuals increases to 500, the body reacts.

How to understand that you are allergic to a mite?

It is possible to determine that the cause of an allergy is a dust mite by a number of characteristic signs:

a person with allergies feels better on the street;
severe nasal discharge and exacerbation of asthma occur during sleep;
Allergic reactions to house dust mites intensify during the breeding season of dust mites: autumn and spring.

Attention! To accurately determine the cause of the allergy, you need to go to the nearest medical facility.

Features of treatment in a child

Antiallergic treatment for a child must be prescribed by a doctor. During the treatment period, it is important to choose the right dosage and general course of medication, which will have a positive effect on your overall well-being.

It must be remembered that some medications are not used in pediatric practice and their independent prescription leads to a lot of unnecessary complications.

A child with allergies should be treated as early as possible. If the disease is neglected, then all the conditions will appear for the development of bronchial asthma.

It is also unacceptable to use only folk remedies; in some cases they suppress the manifestations of the disease, but do not help to completely get rid of it.

Diagnosis of allergic reactions

Diagnosis of allergic reactions to dust mites is carried out during an examination by an immunologist. It involves taking special samples when allergen extracts are introduced into the body of an allergic person, and then monitoring the reaction to them.

Taking these tests will give an accurate answer to the question of whether the allergy was a consequence of contact with dust mites and their waste products or not.

It has been proven that the substances that cause an allergic reaction are certain proteins of dust mites that are resistant to heat and changes in the acid-base balance of the environment. Today, twenty-three allergens present in house dust mites have been identified.

Understanding which of these allergens caused the allergic reaction is essential to successfully treating a patient for house dust mite allergy.

Causes of allergies

When an allergen enters the body, the secretion of antibodies is activated. Physiological processes are replaced by a strong release of inflammatory mediators and histamine. If the allergen re-enters the body, then excess histamine leads to too high excitation of the nerve branches and certain symptoms.

How does dust become an allergen? To answer this question, you need to know its composition, and the cause of dust allergies in children (we’ll look at the symptoms later) can be any type of dust, for example the following:

Street. Such dust contains wood elements, exhaust gases, etc. The body reacts to any of its components, with good reason perceiving them as dangerous to humans. During the flowering period, a large amount of pollen, which is a strong allergen, is also mixed into the dust.
Homemade. No matter how much a person wants it and no matter what he does, dust settles immediately after cleaning and gradually accumulates in all corners of the house or apartment. A child is allergic to such dust because it contains particles of animal hair, paint, mold, etc. In addition, a lot of dusty substances enter the room from the street. Signs of dust allergies in children should be identified promptly.

Paper. Such dust is observed in high concentration if there are a large number of books in the house. Among allergy sufferers, a fairly common reaction is an allergy to dust in the library, especially in cases where mold appears on books. In children, this reaction is based on frequent visits to the library. Library dust can also include components of the vital activity of various microorganisms and even mites.

Of course, dust surrounds us everywhere. However, not every child develops allergies. Why does this happen? The answer lies in the risk factors that influence the occurrence of the reaction. Allergies to household dust are the most common.

Low level of immunity. Due to diseases that weaken the immune system, as well as an unfavorable situation from an environmental point of view in the human habitat, a deficiency of vitamins and microelements affects the sensitivity of the body. Since the child’s body is just beginning to form, such factors further aggravate the situation. It has been established that children living outside the city are much less likely to experience allergic reactions to dust.

High amount of dust. The more particles there are in the environment that surrounds the child, the higher the possibility of a painful reaction.

The influence of heredity. If parents or grandparents were sensitive to dust, the risk of developing a similar problem in their offspring also increases. The symptoms of dust allergies in children are characteristic and difficult to confuse.

Pyroglyphide mites, that is, dust mites. There are more than a hundred of their varieties, but only two of them can provoke an undesirable reaction. These microorganisms cannot be seen; they are nourished by keratinized skin elements that are part of the dust. These mites live in warm and humid environments. Mite dust is present in especially large quantities in carpets, on beds, shelves, etc. It’s scary to think, but in just one gram of dust there are over ten thousand mites. Although they do not bite and do not spread infection, a child's allergies are caused by their waste and the chitin components that cover these microorganisms.

Factors of a psychophysiological nature. Allergies are influenced by depression and emotional fears. Strong experiences that are felt on a subconscious level also have an impact. If a child has negative memories associated with a toy or thing, an allergic attack may occur even when they are completely cleaned. So, what are the symptoms of dust allergies in children?

Dust mite allergy treatment

Treatment of dust mite allergies is carried out with antihistamines, corticosteroids and nasal medications, which are prescribed by the doctor after examination.

Visit doctor

At the first manifestations of an allergy, you should consult an allergist, who, if necessary, will refer you for examination to an immunologist for testing. With their help, the latter confirms or rejects the version of the presence of allergic reactions specifically to dust mite waste products contained in house dust.

These tests improve the quality of treatment, since the allergist prescribes for therapy exactly those drugs that help eliminate the symptoms of this type of allergy.

Attention! It must be remembered that medications do not remove the cause of the allergy, but only relieve its symptoms.

Drugs that block severe allergy symptoms

There are 3 generations of allergy medications that also block the symptoms of dust mite allergy. The very first ones were developed back in the 40s of the last century. They are inexpensive, but have a lot of side effects. Thus, Diphenhydramine and Suprastin quickly relieve swelling and eliminate itching, but cause drowsiness and addiction.

The second generation drugs (Semprex, Claritin, Trexil, Gistalong), developed in the 80-90s, are more advanced. They have significantly fewer side effects and have a long duration of action – from 12 to 24 hours. However, when using it, be sure to strictly adhere to the dosage so as not to provoke interruptions in the functioning of the heart.

Third generation drugs, which appeared in the 21st century, are highly effective and have almost no side effects or contraindications. These are Cetrin, Erius, Telfast, Fexofenadine, they act for up to 48 hours and can be used for long-term therapy.

Attention! Patients with renal failure are advised to take any medications under medical supervision.

A highly effective remedy for eliminating allergic reactions accompanied by tearing, redness and inflammation of the eyes, or their dryness, are Italian eye drops Iridina Antistaminico. Contraindications to the use of the drugs are increased eye or blood pressure.

For external use, gel-like ointments are used that quickly penetrate the source of inflammation, relieve allergy symptoms, moisturize and regenerate the skin: Advantan, Fucidin, Psilo-balm, Fenistil and others.

Desensitization therapy

Desensitizing therapy means introducing increasing doses of allergens to the patient in order to weaken or eliminate the clinical symptoms of an allergic disease. Desensitization can reduce the duration of dust mite allergy by preventing its progression.

The drug is administered under the patient's skin using injections. The allergy sufferer’s body gets used to the allergen and stops actively reacting to it entering the respiratory system. For this procedure, special extracts of dust mite particles are used.

Desensitization therapy is an expensive, time-consuming and unsafe procedure. It is carried out only in cases of prolonged and severe allergic disease, when traditional remedies and methods are ineffective.

Dust mite allergy medications

To eliminate the consequences of an allergy to dust mites, there are special means and preparations, but first of all it is necessary to eliminate the allergen itself - regularly do wet cleaning, wash things, ventilate the room, etc.

Drugs such as Cetirizine, Eden, Telfast, Fenistil and others are excellent at removing allergy symptoms and blocking their return. Children are usually prescribed Telfastil or Suprastin, as well as Erius syrup to reduce sensitivity to the allergen.

For allergic rhinitis, Atomer Propolis spray and Aquamaris solution for rinsing the nose are effective. Asthma attacks are relieved with corticosteroid aerosols. For skin rashes and itching, use Fenistil gel, Sudocrem, Lokoid cream.

Lokoid

First aid

If life-threatening complications develop, such as asthma and Quincke's edema, it is necessary to urgently call an emergency ambulance.
It is necessary to reassure the patient, since anxiety and nervousness will only aggravate the health condition, and use an antihistamine. The injection method of administering the drug will allow you to stop an attack with the greatest speed.

It is necessary to provide access to fresh air: open the vents, windows, doors. Free yourself from restrictive clothing. Monitor your breathing rate and, if necessary, perform artificial respiration and chest compressions.

You need to act without delay, since in such cases there is a high threat to human life.

Forecast for the future

Medicines - antihistamines, nasal and corticosteroids - can only dampen the symptoms of dust allergy, but do not cure the disease. In the future, both stabilization of the allergy sufferer’s condition at a certain level and a gradual deterioration in the general condition and quality of life are possible.

There remains hope for progress in further development of the desensitization procedure. This method of specific immunotherapy, if the deficiencies are eliminated in the future, can allow the patient to completely get rid of the body’s allergic reaction to dust mites.

What to do?

What to do if an allergy starts in a child or an adult? The first step is to avoid contact with sources of allergies by eliminating their locations. At the same time, take medications as prescribed by your doctor.

To relieve symptoms, medications such as:

Antihistamines.
Nasal vasoconstrictor sprays and drops.

In more complex cases, individually selected corticosteroids are used.

Reference. When taking these drugs, we must not forget that they only remove the manifestations of the disease, but not the main cause of the allergy.

In addition, the effect of the drugs is short-lived, so first of all you need to deal with the source of the allergic reaction.

How do allergies manifest in children and who suffers more often?

The cause of an allergy to dust mites in a child can be a weakened immune system, a hereditary predisposition, a lack of vitamins and minerals in the child’s body, a large number of allergens in the house, as well as frequent stress and depression.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction in children can vary greatly. Acute forms of an allergic reaction include suffocation, bronchial asthma, eczema, shortness of breath, Kinke's edema, and anaphylactic shock.

Safe and effective treatments for dust mite allergies include:

eliminating contact with dust;
taking antihistamines;
increasing immunity (taking vitamin complexes, etc.).

Prevention

Along with taking medications, it is necessary to ensure proper sanitary and hygienic care of the living space, which will reduce the level of concentration of field mites and, as a result, alleviate the condition of the allergy sufferer. The list of preventive measures is as follows:

Carry out wet cleaning of the house at least 2 times a week. Thoroughly wipe baseboards, doors, furniture, windows with a cloth soaked in a saline solution (5 tablespoons of salt per 10 liters of water).
Remove carpets, rugs, carpet runners and rugs made from natural wool. If it is impossible to completely abandon the use of floor coverings, then try to replace them with products made from synthetic materials. In the artificial environment, ticks live in much smaller numbers.
Eliminate soft toys from everyday use, as well as decorative pillows with their fur, sofa bedspreads, covers for chairs and armchairs made from high-pile fabrics or woolen yarn.
Ensure frequent changes of bed linen and sleepwear (nightgowns, pajamas, T-shirts and other home textiles). The washing temperature should not be less than 60°C.
If possible, change regular bed linen to special sets for allergy sufferers. Also use anti-allergenic mattress covers and pillows with synthetic filling.
It is better to replace upholstered furniture with fabric upholstery with leather or leatherette. As an option, cover it with covers made from the above materials.
Wardrobes should be as airtight as possible to prevent dust from getting inside. When wet cleaning, do not forget to wipe the internal surfaces (shelves, doors, panels) as well.
Please note that less dust accumulates on metal surfaces than on wooden ones. This means that it makes sense to gradually replace furniture made from natural wood with forged or plastic ones.
Ventilate living areas daily, even in winter.
Provide a certain temperature regime at home (at least 22°C) and humidity level (no more than 55%). If necessary, maintain optimal performance using appropriate household appliances (humidifiers, heaters)
Use special products to combat dust mites: laundry additives, sprays for treating furniture, clothing and interior items, air sprays.
Replace curtains and curtains with blinds made of plastic and metal.
Store dishes, books, household items, clothes and shoes only in closed cabinets.
Feather pillows, mattresses, feather beds, blankets should be regularly ventilated in the open air and dried in the sun.
Install air purifiers equipped with ozonizers and ultraviolet lamps in bedrooms
Do not smoke in the house, limit the entry of cigarette smoke into enclosed spaces.

Treatment of dust mite allergy is a long and labor-intensive process, but with proper diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis for recovery is very favorable.