aoarch asked:


I have a high intensity dust mite allergy. Will an air purifier help?

sohaila asked:


I am under house dust mite allergy since 1994. I have taken a lot of vaccine shots but I still need to see doctor after every 3-4 months. I have been asked not to eat meat and rice particularly.

peterhutch asked:


What are dust mites?

As homes are sealed tighter and tighter against the elements in order to conserve energy, house dust mites (Dermatophagoides spp.) become more of a problem. This page will help you get rid of, or at least more effectively deal with, these mites and the allergens they produce.

House dust is a mixture of ash, cloth fibers, hair, plant pollen, human and animal skin (dander), soil particles, and fungal spores. In many households, human skin flakes, alone, make up much of this debris. House dust mites use this debris as food. These tiny mites feed directly on the organic parts of house dust.

How to Control Dust Mites

Your first step is to encase your pillow and mattress with dust mite covers. Studies have shown that these covers are very effective at reducing dust mite allergens. This step has two main goals: to keep the existing dust mites trapped inside the barrier, so you won’t be exposed to them, and to prevent new dust mites from getting into your pillow and mattress.

The most important tool for managing house dust and dust mites is the vacuum cleaner. Regular, thorough vacuuming of carpets, furniture, textiles and other home furnishings such as draperies will help keep dust mite populations low. Vacuums with a water filter are preferable to those with a disposable paper bag because a water vacuum removes a greater range of particle sizes than paper-bag types. There are vacuums with highly efficient filters (HEPA) designed for use by people with allergies to dust. It is better to vacuum thoroughly once a week rather than lightly on a daily basis. Vacuum mattresses and padded furniture thoroughly; 20 minutes for each mattress is not too long.

Pleated filters are much more efficient than standard fibrous furnace filters; smaller ones do not require modification to the furnace or ductwork. But they are less efficient than electrostatic cleaners. Pleated filters should be inspected regularly and may need more frequent replacement than conventional filters.

Chemical solutions may be helpful. Acaricides (a chemical that kills dust mites) must be applied regularly to carpeting or upholstered furniture. This solution will not remove any preexisting mite droppings. A tannic acid solution, applied as directed, can help neutralize the allergen in mite droppings.

Wash your pillow every week or put a plastic cover on it. (The pillowcase goes over the plastic cover.) How hot is hot? The water used to wash your sheets and blankets should be at least 130°F (54°C). Set your washing machine to it’s hottest setting. If the water doesn’t seem to be coming out hot, you may want to check your hot water heater - you may not realize that most household hot water heaters have a knob that can adjust the temperature of the water it produces.

Eliminate or reduce fabric wall hangings such as tapestries or pennants. Purchase stuffed toys that are machine washable. Avoid using curtains, drapes or blinds on windows. Use plastic shades instead. No pesticides are currently labeled for house dust mites. However, two non-pesticide products, Acarosan and Allergy Control Solution are available for treatment of house dust mites and their allergens. The active ingredient of each is benzyl benzoate and tannic acid. Benzoic acid esters, such as benzyl benzoate, are very effective acaricides in both laboratory and field evaluations. Health risks appear to be slight as benzoates are rapidly metabolized in the body to hippuric acid, which is excreted in the urine. Most acaricidal studies for house dust mite control have been done in Europe.

Tina Arena asked:


i cough through the day, continuously blow my nose, and i feel dust going into my throat and me automatically coughing and coughing trying to get it out but it can’t. i’m coughing as i type this and bringing up mucus from the nose and the throat
help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
any home remedies?
any medicines that relieve this?
pleaaaaassssssseeeeeeeeee

jkdawson99 asked:


Also, money is an issue so if there is an economical one, infor mation on that would be great too. I would like to keep one running in my bedroom to help me sleep at night.

spellchek asked:


I have had a itching problem for ever it seems but worse within last year. I finally did some research and came to the conclusion it is that I am allergic to dust mite allergin. but I itch severly and have visible bumps similar to a miniature mosquito bite. aso it happens more in bed. I v vaccuumed my futon mattress and changed my sheets repeatedly.

rye-bye asked:


My eczema is severe and seems to be worsening as I get older. I know Tn can be bad for allergies so i was just wondering what anyone has found as a better environment. i have the dust mite allergy which means humidity makes it worse, but my skin is really dry so no humidity makes that worse. Is there anywhere that I can strike a better balance? Thanks for any response.

Ling Tong asked:


You may not realize it, but you do have dust mites in your home. This can lead to all kinds of allergies and medical problems, especially if a member of your family has asthma. Dusting the furniture on a regular basis is not enough on its own to get rid of these pests and you need to look at ways in which you can learn how to kill dust mites.

The bedroom is one area of the home that provides the optimum environment for dust mites to breed and thrive. You need to wash your bedclothes in very hot water on a regular basis at least every two weeks. The water should be at the hottest setting on the washing machine at least 130.  If you have fabrics that cannot be washed in hot water, such as some comforters and bedspreads, place them in the freezer for one to two days. Both really hot and really cold temperatures will kill dust mites.

Another method you can use to get rid of dust mites is to replace the bedding with those made from synthetic materials. Instead of using pillows stuffed with feathers and down, use ones that have synthetic fillings. Instead of using woollen blankest, use nylon or cotton ones. The stuffed toys you have in the childrens bedrooms are also havens for dust mites and these need to be washed on a regular basis too. If you are afraid that you may ruin them by washing them in hot water, freeze them once in a while.

Since dust mites thrive in humid conditions, a dehumidifier in your home can help to reduce the humidity levels and so kill the dust mites that exist in the air. Humidity levels should be kept below 50% in order to be effective in this regard. You should also keep the thermostat set below 70 to help kill the mites.

While most people like to make their bed as soon as they rise in the morning, leaving the bed unmade with the sheets exposed to the air for a few hours will help kill the dust mites that live there. This allows the sheets to dry out and while it will not kill all the dust mites it will drastically reduce their numbers.

Carpets and rugs also contain dust mites that you can kill by vacuuming every few days. If it is possible you should vacuum every day. For hardwood and laminate flooring, using a damp mop will control the dust and get rid of the mites. Sweeping a floor scatters the dust throughout the air and this makes the mites airborn. Experts recommend that in order to effectively control the dust mite population in your home, you should remove all carpets.

The sofa is another location often overlooked when you try to kill all the dust mites. By vacuuming the cushions and pillows you will kill the dust mites. Air purifiers are also effective with the filters that remove the dust from the air. You should also replace the filters on your furnace at least every three months.

hmmmm interesting! asked:


My son is 3 and on alot of meds for his asthma, laterst results show house dust mite allergy,any ideas?? he is not allergic to cats and dogs as testing came back negative.
p.s i know you cant get ris of house dust mite ,i am asking how to reduce it. : )

Chris L. asked:


My 2 1/2 year old daughter has terrible allergies, she has been suffering since she was 5 months old. She had 12 sinus infections and 3 ear infections in her first 2 years alone. We started her on Flonase 6 months ago, which really helped teh infections, but since September 1st she has had a lot of congestion again, and has been coughing for at least 2 hours each night due to drainage. We had a Sharper Image UV air purifier, but it has broken 2 weeks ago and we are getting it replaced, not having the unit may be making her allergies worse, we are not sure. We tried Claritin syrup for the past 2 weeks but it does not agree with her stomach. Would a portable UV lamp wand help with some of her symptoms? Has anyone tried the UV wands for dust mites, bacteria, and viruses? The one I see on-line costs nearly $300, would a small aquarium UV light work in the same way for a lot less? ($50?) What is your opinion on UV light alleviating dust mite allergies, do you think it is worth it?
I thought that insect lights attracted insects, then the electric shock killed them!! Anyway, thinking more about it, my daughter’s allergis are more seasonal, probably not dust related so much, since all summer she was 100% fine, it really kicked up first week in September as it has when she was 5 months old (she was born April 3) and 18 months old, she is now 30 months old-my doctor (who I just called) agreed it was seasonal for her. I did not know that the HEPA filters are better I will look into those for her too, that is a better idea for her. She does not have asthma though thank goodness, and she is mostly ok during the day, night time is worse for her. Our house is 15 years old and I know the ducts are very dusty also. I jsut thought the idea of the UV light wand was very interesting.