Abating dust mites

Here’s something you’d probably rather not  know: At this very moment there may be tens of thousands of microscopic dust mites living in your mattress. There might be close to 100,000 of them living in one square yard of bedroom carpeting and countless more in upholstered furniture and your children’s stuffed toys.

It’s unsettling to contemplate, though at least dust mites don’t bite, unlike the bedbugs that are getting so much press these days. But the dust mites’ skin and feces can induce an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals:an occasional nuisance or a primary cause of asthma and other serious respiratory conditions.

“Like other allergies, an allergy to dust mites is an immune system reaction,� said Mark Marshall, M.D., medical director of Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association and a hospitalist at Sharon Hospital. “The body is trying to protect itself by producing an antibody to a protein in dust mite debris, which it has identified as harmful. The immune system’s response results in hay fever-like sniffles and sneezes or far more serious symptoms. Once your body has developed an antibody to a particular allergen, the immune system is conditioned to continue reacting to it.�

Usual symptoms of a dust mite allergy include coughing, sneezing, postnasal drip, an itchy nose — particularly a frequent upward rubbing of the nose in children — an itchy throat or roof of the mouth, watering eyes and fitful sleep. More serious symptoms are chest tightness, pain and difficulty breathing, severe sleep disturbance because of coughing or shortness of breath and wheezing.     

Fight the mites

While we may not  be able to completely eliminate dust mites from our environment,  Marshall recommends reducing dust mites in the home, which is possible with a little effort.

To flourish in your home, dust mites need food, primarily the dead skin cells shed by humans and their pets, which is available in abundance.

About 80 percent of the floating particles seen in a shaft of light indoors are, in fact, skin cells. The other necessity is water, or more precisely, moisture since dust mites absorb water rather than drink it. Dust mites thrive in humid conditions.

One of the most effective means of minimizing dust mite infestations is central air conditioning and a dry heating system in winter. Beyond that there are other things to do.

• Enclose your mattress in a polyurethane or plastic cover. Many websites offer dust mite-proof mattress covers, sheets and pillowcases.

• Wash bedding weekly in very hot water, at least 130 degrees. Freeze items that can’t be washed in hot water, including children’s plush toys, for 24 hours.

• Keep the thermostat below 70 degrees and consider investing in a dehumidifier capable of keeping the relative humidity at 50 percent.

Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner monthly.

• Use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter regularly, not neglecting curtains, blinds and furniture. (Non-HEPA vacuums actually can make the problem worse.) Keep your house clean, but never use a broom or dry mop which stir things up. Regular cleaning can reduce the number of dust mites, as well as other allergens such as pollen and animal dander.

• If someone in your household is seriously affected by dust mites, dispensing with rugs, curtains and other dust-catchers might prove helpful.

• Consider a good air purifier, but avoid those that have “washable� filters. Again, choose a model with a replaceable HEPA filter.

There are many products available to help in dealing with dust mites, including testing kits for assessing the effectiveness of your anti-dust mite campaign. There are also special bed covers for travel use to help you sleep soundly even if you suspect that your hotel isn’t as diligent in its dust mite patrol as you are at home.

Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association, founded in 1904, offers home nursing and hospice care to residents throughout the Northwest Corner.

Writer Cyd Emmons is a consultant to SVNA and other area firms.