House Dust Allergies

Prevention of House Dust Mite and House Dust Allergy

House dust is unique as an allergic material and is different from other kinds of dirt and outside dust. The major allergens of house dust are protein material from several sources. The most important allergens are derived from tiny microscopic organisms — mites of the genus Dermatophagoides. Other allergens contained in house dust come from cats and/or dogs, fungi, cockroaches, and pollen.

When evaluation and testing suggest that house dust is a major cause of allergy, measures to reduce or eliminate house dust and house dust mites are strongly recommended. Studies have shown that environmental control coupled with other treatment, including allergy injections, may substantially improve a patient's allergic condition such as asthma or nasal congestion.

House dust mites are eight-legged creatures that feed on shed scales of human skin. Allergens from these mites are concentrated in their waste particles. Dust mites can flourish only under humid and warm conditions, requiring a "nest" to protect them from rapid dehydration. They live primarily in mattresses, bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture. Control measures are directed at removal or encasement of breeding sites, hot-cycle washing of bedding, reduction of humidity, and possibly chemical treatment.

We concentrate on the bedroom primarily, because these rooms usually contain the highest concentration of mites and patients spend a large portion of their time there. It is not practical, as a rule, to apply these measures to the entire home.

Specific Measures to Decrease House Dust Mites

1. If at all possible, remove the carpet from the bedroom. Wood or tile floors can easily be damp mopped to remove dust. For comfort, washable throw rugs can be used in strategic locations. Carpet laid on cement is especially conducive to mites and needs to be removed and replaced with tile or linoleum.
2. Encase the mattress and box springs with zippered plastic or other impermeable coverings. The zipper can be covered with masking tape to make the encasing airtight. A washable mattress pad can be placed on top of the covering for comfort. A waterbed is an acceptable alternative to a regular mattress and box springs.
3. Bedding should be washed regularly on the hot cycle (140 degrees ideally) to kill the mites contained in sheets, blankets, and bedspreads.
4. Pillows can be encased in plastic like the mattress, or washed on the hot cycle regularly.
5. Upholstered furniture should be removed from the bedroom.
6. Mites need humidity to thrive. Keep ambient humidity below 40%. Vaporizers used to treat conditions such as croup should only be used for a short time.
7. Steam cleaning carpets or utilizing services to clean ventilation ducts do NOT reduce the house dust mite load. Special water-filtered vacuum cleaners are not effective because the exhaust airflow stirs up dust and actually increases the allergen content in the air.
8. Stuffed animals can be placed in the freezer for 24 hours once a month to kill the mites.

Measures to Decrease House Dust in General

1. To create a dust-free bedroom, begin with a thorough cleaning. Take everything you can out of the room including the mattress and box springs. Damp dust the entire room including windowsills, ledges, tops of doors, and moldings. Damp dust the bed frame completely. Clean light fixtures and lamps thoroughly.
2. The mattress and box springs should be encased in allergen-proof covers. All beds in the room should be covered.
3. All pillows in the room should be hypoallergenic. Dacron is preferred over foam. Bedspreads and blankets should be made of simple washable materials. Frilly bedspreads and quilts should be avoided.
4. The more surfaces present, the more area there is for dust collection. Rooms should contain a minimum number of shelves, have simple wood furniture, and be kept neat with drawers and closet doors closed. Objects in the room should be limited and stuffed animals should be few in number and washable.
5. Animals are not only major sources of allergens but also spread dust. All animals should be kept out of the bedroom — and ideally, out of the house.
6. When forced air is the source of air conditioning, the central filter should be changed monthly and additional filters may be inserted in the room's air ducts behind the registers. Charged filters may offer additional benefit.

If you have any questions, contact our office: Omaha: 402-391-1800 Lincoln: 402-464-5969