Dust Mites and asthma - Plus Cool Dust Mite Pictures!

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By MikeNV

Asthma Sufferers Get No Help From Dust MIte Reduction

Clinical Study on Dust Mites done in Denmark shows that even when dust mites are reduced it does not lower the incidence of asthma for those who suffer from it.  I’m including a blurb from that article with each picture.

Dust Mite Treatments No Effect on Asthma Sufferers

In 54 trials involving more than 3,000 patients, the most widely recommended treatments to reduce dust mites had no effect on the symptoms of asthma sufferers, researchers in Denmark found.
See all 5 photos
In 54 trials involving more than 3,000 patients, the most widely recommended treatments to reduce dust mites had no effect on the symptoms of asthma sufferers, researchers in Denmark found.

Chemical and Physical Methods no Help for Asthma Sufferers

Chemical and physical methods aimed at reducing exposure to house dust mite allergens cannot be recommended, wrote Dr. Peter Gotzsche, director of the Nordic Cochrane Center in Copenhagen.
Chemical and physical methods aimed at reducing exposure to house dust mite allergens cannot be recommended, wrote Dr. Peter Gotzsche, director of the Nordic Cochrane Center in Copenhagen.

The Real Culprit - Dustmite Waste!

Its not the mites themselves that cause problems. Their waste and decaying bodies contain a protein that mixes with household dust and becomes airborne, triggering wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes and runny noses in mite-sensitive people.
Its not the mites themselves that cause problems. Their waste and decaying bodies contain a protein that mixes with household dust and becomes airborne, triggering wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes and runny noses in mite-sensitive people.

HEPA Filtration and Sprays No Help

That means patients tempted to try cures ranging from powders and sprays to air ionizers and expensive HEPA-filter vacuum cleaners shouldnt bother, said the researchers, who have studied the issue in periodic reports for more than a decade.
That means patients tempted to try cures ranging from powders and sprays to air ionizers and expensive HEPA-filter vacuum cleaners shouldnt bother, said the researchers, who have studied the issue in periodic reports for more than a decade.

Not One Reduction Method Helped!

The studies reviewed by the Denmark team ranged from trials of two weeks to two years. They included several techniques aimed at reducing dust mites. Researchers used chemicals to poison the critters and physical interventions to get rid of them. The
The studies reviewed by the Denmark team ranged from trials of two weeks to two years. They included several techniques aimed at reducing dust mites. Researchers used chemicals to poison the critters and physical interventions to get rid of them. The

Asthma Sufferers No Solution from Dust Mite Control

Do you know how many of these little dust mite creatures live in your home, on your bedding, your clothing, and are crawling across your body right now?

Crazy Insane Numbers of Dust Mites

Estimates run the spectrum and can not be accurately verified but it’s proposed that as many as:

  • 100,000 per square yard of carpeting
  • 10 million in a warm, moist, unlaundered bedding

Yuk, Yuk, and more Yuk. But when you think about all the nasty bacteria that is in our World on the things we touch and use every day you should take it all in stride.

What is a Dust Mite?

“ House dust mites are sightless, transparent, eight legged, microscopic organisms, about 1/3 mm in length that are closely related to ticks and spiders. They feed on human skin scales, animal dander, food remnants, mold and pollen.” (Nurse Practitioner, October 1992. p. 53)

During its 80-day lifespan, the average dust mite produces around 1,000 allergenic waste particles.

Where do Dust Mites Live?

They flourish in warm, humid environments like your bed and survive by feeding off dead human skin cells and animal dander. Dust mite populations increase rapidly; each egg-laying female can increase the population by 25 or 30 mites a week, and depending on its age, your bed may house between 100,000 and 10,000,000 dust mites. Dust mites also live in carpet, upholstery, and stuffed toys. (Buy washable toys and wash them frequently to prevent dust mite infestation.)

The lifespan of a dust quoted above is contradicted by information in Wikipedia which states

The average life cycle for a male house dust mite is 10 to 19 days. A mated female house dust mite can live for 70 days, laying 60 to 100 eggs in the last 5 weeks of her life. In a 10 week life span, a house dust mite will produce approximately 2000 fecal particles and an even larger number of partially digested enzyme-covered dust particles.

Ultimately it doesn’t matter because you can’t get rid of them… you can only reduce their numbers. And while beneficial to reducing the numbers for other reasons, research has shown it really doesn't help Asthma sufferers.

Interesting Note About Dust Mites and Pillow Myths

A 1996 study from the British Medical Journal has shown that polyester fibre pillows contained more than 8 times the total weight of Der p I and 3.57 times more micrograms of Der p I per gram of fine dust than feather pillows.

Comments Welcome

Comments

one2recognize2 profile image

one2recognize2 Level 2 Commenter 2 years ago

Hate the mites. Found out a few years ago I am severely allergic to them so have to ensure my carpets are cleaned twice a week and bed linen is changed three times a week to prevent breaking out in hives. They can also live in your air conditioner filter so also best to clean that out as often as you can. Great hub Mike, very informative, but then again I didn't expect anything less. Hope all is well.

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