Dust mites

If you ask anyone: "What are you breathing at home?", The most frequent answer will be, undoubtedly: "By air, what else?". But it is in this - what else - and is the very essence of the problem.

After all, no matter how carefully and diligently you do not conduct regular cleaning of the premises, daily giving it a lot of time, and to achieve absolute cleanliness and get rid of all the dust particles is not possible. This is hampered by the furniture set in the room, kitchen furniture, the presence of built-in cabinets, etc., remove dust from all hard-to-reach places which can be very problematic. There is no need to remind once again that in house dust can contain a lot of allergens. It contains the presence of small fragments of various fibers, spores of fungi - yeast and mold, there are cells of dead epidermis of humans and animals, living products left by small insects. At the same time, various living organisms can take part in dust, among them dust mites.

These creatures are saprophytes of dermatophagoides pteronyssimus - constant uninvited guests in people's homes for already not one hundred years. It is assumed that initially they were brought into the premises in which the person lives, along with the feathers and down of the poultry, and in addition to that with agricultural products. The fact that domestic dust is the habitat for ticks is known for certain since 1964, when Dutch and Japanese researchers received confirmation of their presence in dust samples collected from various houses. Currently, the classification of all possible identified dust mites has about 150 of their species.

Dust mites have negligible dimensions, small so that they can not be seen without the help of special optical devices. He does not come into direct contact with man, can not bite and suck blood. They also do not act as carriers of any diseases. The main negative point in connection with their existence, however, is that they are the main household allergen.

[1], [2], [3]

What do dust mites look like?

So, what are the dust mites and what do they look like? A separate specimen of this creature is an insect of the Arachnida class, which has an undivided body with microscopic dimensions. The body length, as a rule, is within the limits of 0.1-0.5 millimeters. Dust mite has the appearance of the most ordinary spider. On each of the four pairs of limbs of this creature, there is a presence of peculiar suckers with which the dust mite is able to firmly attach to the surface. For this reason, the vacuum cleaner in the matter of getting rid of these main household sources of allergy is not an assistant. In addition, the body of such mites is covered with a water-repellent layer, so that they are easily able to pass through water droplets, and therefore to wash them off, you need to use a solution of water with soap in the cleaning.

Dust mites have mouthpiece, which can be different on the basis of what the method of nutrition is.

Dust mites can be classified into three main groups. First of all, it is necessary to name the actual pyrroglipid ticks, as well as the barn mites of some of their species. The second group includes ticks-predators, which are eaten by representatives of the first group. And finally - those mites that could be accidentally brought from outside. The latter is not peculiar to the reproduction and increase of its population in people's homes.

To understand how dust mites look, you need to resort to using a microscope. These organisms invisible to the armed look belong to the number of saprophytes that eat out obsolete organic substances.

Where do the dust mites live?

Dust mites belong to the category of synanthropic organisms, which means "living with man". Optimal for their life are the conditions with air temperature from 22 to 26 degrees Celsius and a humidity level exceeding 55%.

Among the main places in the houses of people where dust mites live, there are sleeping rooms, where they prefer to settle in beds, sofas, in bed linens. Their presence takes place in old mattresses, blankets filled with cotton, and in pillows with natural bird feathers. These bedding often represent the most genuine dust collectors. Mites of that species are generally present in dust accumulations. Ideal for them in this respect is the bag in the vacuum cleaner, where everything is necessary for their comfortable existence: darkness (and for them sunlight is extremely undesirable), low humidity, high enough temperature.

As the main source of food dust mites are dead skin cells of people, and every day a person has a loss of skin scales in the amount of about one and a half grams. The dust mites are also eaten by the pile of wool blankets, blankets, upholstery and carpets. In addition, they accumulate on skirting boards, on bookshelves in home shoes, etc.

Dust mites form colonies in quantities of 10-10 000 individuals in 1 gram of dust. Basically, their concentration is about 100/1 g. There is, however, a tendency to increase in their numbers during the period August-October. Up to 100 mites inclusive in one gram of dust is safe for humans, but with an increase in their concentration, the likelihood of an allergic reaction in this connection may increase.

When a person is allergic, and definitely determined that its provoking factor is household dust, where dust mites live, the beginning of treatment should be preceded by sanitary and hygienic measures to clean the room.

Symptoms

Symptoms of dust mites are primarily displayed in the negative phenomena that occur in the respiratory system, as well as affecting the upper epithelial layer of the skin.

The typical manifestations are:

A condition of a stuffy nasal sinuses, accompanied by allocation from a nose in a plenty and frequent sneezing.

Irritant mucous in the eyes, which leads to red eyes and severe lachrymation. The possibility of conjunctivitis is not ruled out.

There is a dry cough, as well as wheezing in the chest.

Respiratory processes can be difficult due to severe shortness of breath, suffocation.

On some surfaces of the skin can occur irritations with redness, rashes. There may be urticaria.

As a very serious allergic reaction to dust mites, the symptomatology of bronchial asthma is capable. Allergy of a high degree of manifestation is manifested in the specific reaction of the respiratory tract in their lower parts. Breathing is difficult, breathing is often accompanied by a whistle or a fit of coughing. Such manifestations often occur during physical exertion, when the respiratory processes are activated, or after a considerable exertion of effort.

The long-term course of allergy to dust mites is accompanied by a continuous inflammatory process in the nasal mucosa. Nasal congestion is always present and sneezing arises in episodic attacks.

When any of the listed manifestations are noted and it can be assumed that it is the symptoms of dust mites, it is necessary to go to a consultation with a doctor for an allergist. The specialist will be able to diagnose on the basis of a conversation with the patient and conducted special testing for allergies.

Dust mite on the face

In addition to living in a dusty environment in places difficult to access for cleaning and in bed linen (also called bed mites), a dust mite can live on the face of a person and on hair.

Since this mite is nourished by the epidermis, and a person daily exfoliates up to several tens of millions of skin scales plus a sufficiently high temperature - all this meets the required favorable conditions for his vital activity. There is an active reproduction of these organisms, which occupy hair follicles, sebaceous glands and their ducts in the scalp and face. Foci of diffusion of dust mite on the face are found at the corners of the lips, in the area below the wings of the nose, on the nasal septum and above the upper lip. Sometimes there may also be the presence of ticks on the skin of the forehead, cheeks and eyelids.

To get rid of the disease caused by dust mite demodekozom (mite - Demodex) may take two to three months. At such a period, a course of treatment with antiparasitic and exfoliating procedures, cryogenic exposure to liquid nitrogen, and the use of powerful ointments are usually performed. Ointments are assigned 5-10 percent sulfuric, with hydrochloric acid 6%, and sodium thiosulfate. The list of prescriptions includes, in addition, powders, grindings with sulfur-tar alcohol. To avoid allergies, antihistamine properties are also suitable. Therapeutic measures, both aimed at preventing undesirable changes in the acid-base balance, and aimed at strengthening the walls of the vessels. In some cases, the possibility of antibiotic treatment is not excluded. You need to pay proper attention to diet planning. It should be gentle and exclude fried, fatty, spicy and salty.

The dust mite on the face is a rather unpleasant phenomenon and the medical measures against it are aimed at firstly driving out the parasite, and secondly, restoring the healthy condition of the facial skin affected by its adverse effects. To prevent the return of this problem, it is also necessary to conduct a general disinfestation, boil all bed linen.

[4], [5]

Bites of dust mites

Many people in connection with dust mites can be noted the appearance of characteristic cones on the skin with reddening of the skin and the appearance of itching. It is widely believed that the cause of this is the bites of dust mites. Nevertheless, such a belief is not entirely true, or, to be more precise, completely ungrounded. Causing any mechanical damage to human skin in the form of a bite with the force that it became possible to feel, these extremely small in size organisms are not able. Adult individuals of dust mites reach a value of not more than a quarter of a millimeter and can not be seen with the naked eye. For this it is necessary to use a microscope with magnification up to four dozen times.

Thus, dust mites do not bite, and all the negative manifestations caused as a result of their impact on humans come from the fecal marbles excreted by them in the process of vital activity. Such secretions having a weight of less than 2 x 10-thousandths of a gram, forming aggregations, are able to easily fly into the air together with dust. Being in such a suspended state, they settle on the skin and can appear in the respiratory tract. As a result, all kinds of allergic reactions, accompanied by the corresponding symptomatology, are able to develop.

Due to dust mites, allergies of almost all types can occur, but they are caused not by the bites of dust mites, but by the ingress of their excrement along with particles of dust into the respiratory system and the skin of people. Allergies arising from the presence of ticks in household dust, besides being a very unpleasant phenomenon, can be quite dangerous for a person. Therefore, if one of the permanent residents in the house has allergy symptoms and is confirmed that it is triggered by dust mites, immediate measures must be taken to eliminate them, ticks, and presence.

Dust mites in cushions

Dust mites in cushions can be present as one of the representatives of an entire ecosystem that can take place in bedding. These pincers are selected as a habitat for those pillows and blankets, the fillers of which are natural bird feathers or down animals. All over the world by now, cushions stuffed with natural feathers or down are practically not used. However, synthetic pillow materials can not give an absolute guarantee that they will not have these ticks. Contrary to the prevailing opinion, in synthetics - in silicone fibers, sintepon, chlorfiber, these organisms are also capable of quite a good job. In a mattress, which has not undergone special treatment for three years of its use, its contents may consist of dust mites, together with their larvae and excrement, for one 10th part.

Certainly, in order to prevent the appearance of such a problem as dust mites in the bed, a regular change of pillows, mattresses and bed linen can be the best measure. On the other hand, the use of mattresses, pillows and blankets with special fillers can become an excellent preventive measure, in which dust mites can not live in them.

As an example, we will cite pillows, also called bio-pillows, filled with buckwheat husk. They are highly hygienic, do not become clogged with dust, and also represent an environment unsuitable for all kinds of parasites. These pillows, among other things, have hypoallergenic and orthopedic properties.

100% cotton and natural wool, used as a filler, contribute to the repulsion of various allergens. These hypoallergenic pillows require the simplest care, since it is hermetic, which eliminates the penetration of dust and parasites. All you need is to change the pillowcases after every few weeks and wash in non-hot water with non-aggressive detergents.

Cushions with bamboo fibers are often used, which have a natural antibacterial, anti-static and deodorizing effect. In bamboo there is a natural antiseptic content that prevents parasitic organisms and bacteria from multiplying. And what is characteristic - even when such a pillow has been repeatedly washed, similar properties of bamboo pillows continue to persist.

Dust mites in pillows, it happens, even if you constantly carefully wash and dry the pillows and can remind you of their existence. The crux of the problem is that if it succeeds to get rid of the adults, larvae may remain. In hospitals, as a rule, the method of processing bed linen using an autoclave is used to eliminate the dust flare.

[6]

Allergy to dust mites

Allergy to dust mites can have prerequisites for the appearance of a characteristic seasonal change in the number of these organisms in the composition of household dust, which is different for different regions. The maximum number of populations of these organisms is mainly reached in the period from late August to early October. The underlying factor in the development of such an allergic reaction in connection with dust mites is, besides this, a microclimate existing in the room.

At a concentration of more than one and a half to two thousand in one gram of household dust, dust mites are able to provoke both the development of an allergy and lead to a number of diseases in a wide range from the common cold in chronic form to asthma. A particularly high risk of allergic reaction in allergic people to dust is caused by the presence of these ticks in the amount of more than a hundred of their units in 1 gram of dust, and as their concentration increases, more than 500 it can act as the cause of an attack of bronchial asthma.

Therefore, before prescribing treatment in such a phenomenon as an allergy to dust mites, it is necessary to establish their concentration in 1 gram of dust, and if there are more than 100, a full sanitary and hygienic treatment of the room is required.

[7], [8], [9]

Why are dust mites dangerous?

Dust mites are saprophytes, that is, they belong to the category of those organisms that normally coexist peacefully with another being, in this case, with a human being. And such coexistence on the one hand does not do people any good, and on the other - the dust mite is not able to have any appreciable harmful effect. With an eye to this, the question naturally arises - in that case, what are the dangerous dust mites?

The main negative factor that can occur as a result of the fact that a person comes into contact with the presence of this creature is primarily the fact that dust mites in house dust are its component with allergic properties. As an allergen for a certain number of people can act as the final product of the life of these organisms (their feces), and fragments of the destroyed chitinous shell of dead individuals. As part of the mite secretions, there are digestive enzymes: proteins Der f1 and Der p1, which provoke the destruction of human skin cells, the appearance of allergies and inflammation of the skin. All these microscopic particles are suspended in the air and have a fairly long settling time. Because of this, it is not difficult for them to end up in the human respiratory tract, where they produce the effect of an allergenic stimulus.

The consequence of the reaction of the human body to the allergic effect of the dust mite is the periodic appearance of the common cold, which over time can be transformed into a state of chronic nasal congestion; occurrence of itching; inflammatory processes in the intestine; the appearance of dermatitis, including seborrheic dermatitis, which is accompanied by acne, eczema; lacrimation; development of allergic asthma. In addition, with regard to the respiratory system, as a result of the long-term action of dust mites, acute respiratory viral diseases and infections, acute bronchitis and tracheobronchitis occur.

Thus, summing up everything that dust mites are dangerous, we note that this is primarily all kinds of allergic reactions to the ingress of house dust, in which these organisms are contained, on the skin and in the respiratory tract. And during one day the amount of dust settling on the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs can reach up to 6 billion. Together with them in the blood and subsequently in the tissue organs penetrate the products of life of dust mites. More than three quarters of all the resources of the immune system are treated every day to neutralize the negative effects of these dust particles. But the reserves of human immunity are not infinite.

Dust mite under a microscope

Dust mite under the microscope becomes visible only with the use of a 30-40-fold increase. The maximum size of such a mite never reaches a value greater than 0.3 millimeters. The average length of bodies of representatives of these living organisms in house dust is 250-300 microns. At the given sizes their quantity in bed-clothes of a double bed can be equal to two millions.

The development of allergic reactions from dust mites is not due to their bites because they do not bite either humans or animals. The decisive factor of allergy to house dust is the presence in it of dust mite feces. Dimensions of fecal marbles are equal to 10-40 microns. There is an accumulation in the dust, which is in the air indoors and does not settle for 10 to 20 minutes.

This organism is a very frequent invisible intruder of a person's cohabitant, and to release a house from its presence can present certain difficulties, since a dust mite becomes visible under a microscope and nothing else. As suckers on the paws allow it to be held on different surfaces. Therefore, it is often not easy to remove dust mites. And he, in turn, can present a considerable problem for allergy sufferers and asthmatics.

Combating dust mites

The fight with dust mites in most cases does not lead to an absolute and final disposal, but there are a number of effective measures, the adoption of which can help reduce the concentration of these organisms in house dust - the main sources of household allergies.

Since the optimal conditions for the life of dust mites are incompatible with low temperatures, this factor a person can turn to benefit himself. In winter, bedding - mattresses, pillow blankets, as well as carpets, outerwear, soft toys, it would be good to freeze on the street. This can bring significant devastation to the ranks of the dust mite, and in addition will cause the death of their oviposition.

The effect of ultraviolet radiation of the summer sun is no less effective in terms of destroying the dust mite.

Reducing the concentration of these harmful creatures is achieved as a result of regular wet cleaning in all rooms with saline solution in a ratio of 5-10 spoonfuls of salt to a bucket of water.

An excellent assistant in the fight against dust mites is the ability to become a vacuum cleaner that has an aquafilter, and besides this, vacuum cleaners. It should be separately said that a conventional vacuum cleaner without such special devices and functions can not cope with this causative agent of household allergy. Eggs and feces of a dust mite due to their microscopic dimensions are not retained by filters of vacuum cleaners, moreover - they can be sprayed throughout the room.

Completely kill all the available in bedclothes representatives of a dust mite along with the offspring becomes possible if the laundry is washed regularly in a temperature regime above 65 degrees, while using modern detergents. Currently, washing machines offer the ability to wash pillows and blankets, and soft toys, helping to effectively clean things from the unwanted presence of dust mites.

In view of the fact that in the mattresses and pillows over time large accumulations of dust mites are formed, it is recommended to start using a new pillow and mattress after every 5-7 years.

Perhaps the best fight against dust mites is to maintain a constant low humidity below 40 percent and regularly ventilate the room. The first advantage of this is the general improvement in the state of health, a decrease in the severity of allergic symptoms, and on the other hand this will create conditions unfavorable for the existence of a dust mite. There are in addition certain drugs that have an effect for one or several months, but they should be used with all the precautions and adhere to the instructions.

[10], [11]

Acaricidal agents

So, dust mites take place in dust accumulations in the room - this is a fait accompli. The fight against these harmful organisms is reduced mainly to prevent further growth of their population to that level of concentration when they begin to pose a threat to humans, causing an increased risk of all kinds of allergic reactions.

To date, various means have been developed that, on the one hand, promote the binding of allergens, and on the other, they kill ticks. These are the so-called acaricidal agents from dust mites, which are active substances specially created to eliminate these creatures.

Acaricides can be based on both chemical and plant components. The latter also include substances producing the tick effect effect of stopping its ability to develop into an adult and reproduce the offspring.

One of the newest developments in this field is the Allergoff acaricide designed specifically for the destruction of dust mites. The effectiveness of this drug is achieved through a combination of all the advantages that plant products possess, with the intensive action of chemical preparations, as well as with methods of biological control over the growth of the population of ticks. The use of a spray once guaranteed results in the destruction of dust mites at all stages of their life cycle for a period of more than six months in bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture processed by him.

Read more about dust mites sprays here.

Allergoff is also presented as an acaricidal additive used to eliminate allergens during washing.

To additives when washing have acaricidal properties is Akaril.

MITE-NIX is a tool for treatment against ticks and contributing to the elimination of allergens.

Acaricide from dust mites begin to act immediately after their use, and the effect of them persists for one to two months. But the use of such drugs requires great care, as in the preparations there is the presence of sufakatantov.

[12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17],