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What are
Dust Mites?
Quietly lurking under our beds, inside sofas and carpet are creatures
too small to see without a microscope or strong magnifying glass. Dust mites are
in the arachnid family which includes spiders, scorpions and ticks. Dust mites
trigger asthma in individuals with allergic reactions to dust mites, and
exposure to dust mites can cause asthma in children who have not previously
exhibited asthma symptoms.
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Dust mites feed on dead skin that sloughs from our bodies (and probably
potato chips & cookie crumbs). They live on mattresses, pillows, carpets,
upholstered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, stuffed toys and fabric and
fabric-covered items. The life span of a mite is only two to three months. The
dust mite population increases very rapidly. Each egg-laying female can
increase the population by 25 to 30 mites every three weeks. Also each mite
produces between 10 and 20 waste pellets each day.
The cleanliness of the home or the presence of animals has nothing to
do with the number of mites in a home. Their population is determined by the
humidity of the home, the temperature of the home, and the amount of fabric or
upholstery in the home. No matter how clean a home is, dust mites cannot be
totally eliminated. House dust mites are found in most houses. Their numbers
have increased dramatically in recent years, and there is evidence that this has
led to a corresponding rise in the number of asthma sufferers. However, the
number of mites can be reduced by following the suggestions below |
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Dust Mite Study |
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Allergy Care
