Do you often get colds and coughs? The cause may be house dust! (Dust Mite Allergy)

Do you sneeze when you wake up in the morning? Do you feel like your nose is blocked and your eyes are itchy? We often think that this is a common cold. But if this condition occurs to you frequently, the cause may be small, invisible creatures in your bed, pillow, and carpet. Today, let's talk about this 'Dust Mite' Allergy, which many people have but do not know about.

What is 'Dust Mite Allergy'?

Simply put, this is our body's hypersensitivity reaction to a species of tiny creatures that live in the dust of our homes. We call these creatures 'Dust Mites'.

Just think, these creatures are barely related to spiders, with eight legs, but they are so small that we can't see them. They prefer to live in places like our beds, mattresses, pillows, sofas, carpets, and thick curtains. Their main food is the dead skin cells that fall off our bodies and those of our pets.

Now you might think that allergies only occur when you come into contact with these animals. Actually, no. The cause of allergies is not these animals, but the waste products (to be precise, feces) that come out of their bodies and the proteins in the body parts that remain after they die. We call these things allergens .

These things are usually harmless. However, if you have an allergy to them, your body's immune system sees these things as if they were a big enemy, like a virus, that has entered your body. Then your body starts a big fight to get that 'enemy' out. The results of that fight are what we get as allergy symptoms like sneezing, stuffy nose, and itchy eyes.

Do you also have these symptoms?

The symptoms of a dust mite allergy are very similar to those of a common cold, which is why many people confuse the two.

Important: A common cold usually gets better in a few days, or a week at most. However, if these symptoms persist for weeks or months, it is more likely that it is a dust mite allergy. If you have any doubts, it is best to talk to your doctor.

How do you know for sure if this is a dust mite allergy?

If you continue to have these symptoms, it is very important to see a doctor for advice. If necessary, he or she may refer you to an allergist.

There are generally two types of tests to confirm the presence of this allergy.

1. Skin Prick Test

This is the most common test. It involves exposing your skin to a very small amount of dust mite protein.

• The doctor will clean a small area of ​​skin on your arm or back with alcohol.
• Then, a drop of dust mite allergen liquid is placed on the skin and lightly scratched with a small needle.
• This doesn't hurt much, it just feels like a small sting, like being bitten by an ant. There's no bleeding.
• After about 15 minutes, if you have an allergy, the area will turn red, swell slightly, and appear like a small blister (wheal), as if it were bitten by a mosquito.
• The doctor can tell whether you are allergic to this or not by looking at the size of the blister.

2. Blood test (Blood IgE Test)

This test is performed on someone who cannot undergo a skin test (for example, someone with skin diseases).

• Here, a small amount of blood is taken from a vein in your arm and sent to a laboratory.
• There, the amount of Immunoglobulin E (IgE), a type of specific antibody produced by the body against these dust mite proteins, is measured in your blood.
• If you have high levels of IgE in your blood, it means you have a dust mite allergy.

What can be done to treat allergies?

First of all, it is important to note that this allergy cannot be completely cured . However, there are many things you can do to control the symptoms and live a normal life without any problems. Your doctor will assess your condition and prescribe the most appropriate treatment.

There are several main treatment methods:

• Oral Antihistamines: These are the most commonly prescribed types of pills. These medications block a chemical called histamine, which causes things like itching, sneezing, and runny nose.
• Nasal Corticosteroids: These are very effective treatments for nasal congestion and other symptoms. They should be used daily as directed by a doctor.
• Decongestants: These provide temporary relief from nasal congestion, but are not recommended for long-term use .
• Allergy Shots / Immunotherapy: This is a longer-term treatment. This involves slowly injecting very small amounts of the dust mite allergen into your body, 'sensitizing' your immune system to it. Over time, your body's response to the allergen diminishes. This is a treatment that needs to be done for about 3-5 years.
• Sublingual Immunotherapy: This is similar to the treatment mentioned above, but instead of injections, you place drops containing the allergen under your tongue daily, as prescribed by your doctor.

How to protect yourself from dust mites? Prevention is the best!

As well as taking medication, and perhaps more importantly, reducing your exposure to dust mites, you can go a long way in controlling your symptoms by making a few small changes to your lifestyle.