House dust mites are small and whitish in colour. Between 0.1 and 0.6 mm long, they are barely visible to the naked eye. The mite is related to the spider family. It is completely harmless unless you suffer from allergy to mites.
Minute fragments of mites easily become airborne when house dust is disturbed and are thus inhaled by everyone. When proteins (allergens) from these fragments come into contact with the immune system of an allergic person, an overreaction occurs.

Allergy to house dust mite affects millions of people all over the world.

Am I allergic to house dust mites?
You may have an allergy if you regularly have one or more of the following symptoms:

• breathing difficulty
• wheezing
• coughing
• stuffy, itchy and runny nose
• itchy, runny eyes
• skin symptoms as eczema

If you experience one or more of the above symptoms, you should consult your doctor or a specialist. The doctor will then perform some diagnostic tests to find out exactly what you are allergic to.

Indications that could suggest mite allergy are:

• stuffy nose, sneezing or difficulty in breathing when you wake up in the morning
• symptoms after making the bed
• symptoms after emptying the vacuum cleaner

When and where am I exposed to house dust mites?
Mites thrive in dark and humid places at temperatures of around 25° C. Since they feed on human dander (the dead skin cells shed by all humans), mattresses and pillows are an ideal environment for them.
They are found in many other places, however, such as clothing, carpets, upholstered seats and soft toys. And we are also regularly in contact with mites outside our homes - e.g. school and kindergartens, public transport, hotels and cinemas.

The general improvement in building insulation to save energy has increased indoor humidity and then improved living conditions for mites.

How do I avoid house dust mites?
It is virtually impossible to avoid mites completely. However, there are ways in which you can reduce their number and thereby be less troubled by your allergy.

• Remove carpets from the bedroom.
• Wash bed linen, pillows and covers at a high temperature several times a month.
• Vacuum-clean your mattress every month.
• Ensure that your home is aired several times daily.
• Keep the indoor humidity as low as possible in the cold season (<45% relative humidity).
• Use special microfilters (HEPA) in your vacuum cleaner.

You can request a dust analysis of your bedroom - particularly your mattress. A dust sample from your mattress is analysed for mite content. You can use such tests to check the success of your attempts to avoid mites.

If you consult a allergy specialist, you may also be advised to invest in various environmental control measures. The use of special mattress encasings and covers, which literally encapsulate the mites in your bed, has been shown to decrease mite levels. Chemicals to kill mites are also available.

Parents are recommended to stop smoking, as this may prevent the development of mite allergy in their children.