Allergies and Children
Dust Mites, Allergies, Asthma and Your Kids
Even the cleanest home has them, but they are difficult to see with the naked eye. If you look at a dust mite under the microscope, you will see that it’s about 0.5mm long, has eight legs and is whitish in color. Just an ounce of dust may contain as many as 30,000 dust mites! Dust mites may be tiny - but the female of the species can lay between 60 to 100 eggs in its short lifetime.
Dust mites can be found all over the home, but unfortunately one of their favorite places is a bed. They live on the skin cells that we shed each night; the problem is even worse if a bedroom is particularly humid. They also love warm places such as pillows, mattresses, carpets and the space between a carpet and a concrete floor – in fact, they thrive in temperatures of 70 degrees or above, and with a relative humidity of between 75 to 80 percent.
Dust mites are the leading cause of allergies, especially asthma. And if a child already has asthma, the presence of dust mites can cause the child to wheeze more and to need more asthma medication. High levels of exposure to dust mites are particularly harmful when it comes to children with asthma. Children are also more likely to develop allergy symptoms than adults, especially if there is a history of it in the family.
Children who are allergic to dust mites are actually reacting to the proteins which are found in the body and feces of dust mites. The feces dries out and is literally thrown into the air when somebody walks over a carpet, sits down in a soft chair or turns back the sheets on a bed. And as any allergy sufferer will testify – this can cause symptoms that begin almost immediately.
Children who have allergies caused by dust mites may exhibit several symptoms. One clue that the allergies are caused by dust mites is that a child will typically have these symptoms year round – unlike seasonal allergies which are caused by mold or pollen. A child may show cold or flu-like symptoms – sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, coughing or watery eyes.
Other signs of allergies may be even more difficulty than usual in breathing; and if you have an infant who suffers from eczema, the eczema may be worse. Hay fever (or allergic rhinitis as it is technically called) is a common allergenic – around 15 percent of people suffer from it – the main symptoms are a runny or blocked up nose, watery or itchy eyes as well as a burning sensation in the throat.
Dust mite allergies can vary from mild to severe. A mild allergic reaction might mean the occasional runny nose or sneezing. A severe reaction might be indicated by persistent wheezing, sneezing and a feeling of pressure on the face. And you may notice also that asthma attacks are more common at night – a clue that the bed your child is sleeping in may have been infested with dust mites.
If symptoms persist, your doctor may have to undertake an allergy test to determine if symptoms are caused by a dust mite allergy. This procedure usually involves a skin test and sometimes a blood test. Depending on the severity of the allergies, a child suffering from dust mite allergies may be prescribed such treatment as a regimen of antihistamines, the use of an inhaler or a series of allergy shots.
What are the symptoms of being allergic to dust mites?
It is the protein within a dust mite’s feces that will produce certain antibodies in human beings, who are allergic, whenever these are inhaled or touched. The antibodies will in turn release histamines, which is the main cause of irritation and respiratory problems. If someone is allergic to dust mites they will generally experience some or all of the following:
- Runny nose
- Hay fever
- Nasal congestion
- Itchy, watery or red eyes
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Difficulty in breathing and asthma
- Eczema
- Itchy nose, throat or roof of the mouth
- Swollen and blue colored skin under the eyes
In order to confirm whether a person is allergic to dust mites they will need to undergo certain skin and blood tests with their doctor. Unfortunately, dust mites are pretty much present the whole year round, and therefore the symptoms of an allergy may be present throughout the year.
Dust mites are particularly drawn to areas of high temperature and humidity, and therefore they are far more evident during the warmer seasons of the year. However, symptoms may worsen due to high humidity, high temperatures above 70°F, poor ventilation, and any indoor air pollution produced by items such as tobacco smoke or car fumes.
If you have a child who suffers from dust mite allergies, the best thing you can do is to rid your home of the tiny pests - there are a number of steps you can take to minimize the suffering of children with allergies. Perhaps the most important thing is to purchase a dust mite cover for each of your pillows and mattresses – research has showed that covers are effective in reducing allergens. You will still have to wash the covers regularly - try to buy covers that can be machine washed in hot water at a temperature between 130 to 140 degrees.
Air all of your bedding, pillows and mattresses outside for at least an hour as often as you can - ideally at least several times every week. And it’s a big step, but consider removing all the wall to wall carpeting from your childrens bedrooms and any other rooms that are often used. If you must have carpet, be sure to clean it thoroughly, ideally with a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter.
Dust mites don’t like dry and cold air – consider purchasing a stand-alone single-room dehumidifier and keep the humidity in your room low – between 35 to 50 percent. If at all practical, consider having plastic curtains and chairs made out of wood or plastic. Try to avoid having things in your children’s bedrooms that can attract mites – cushions, teddy bears and soft toys.
If you aren’t allergic to them, dust mites are really not harmful – in fact, you don’t even know that they are there. But if your children do have allergies its worth doing all you can to remedy the problem.