Dust mite havoc
You often hear people saying they are allergic to dust. But did you know that it’s hardly dust they are allergic to? Allergies are caused by tiny dust mites that you cannot see with your naked eye. Dust mites settle on carpets, curtains and cuddly toys and other house furnishing. But their favourite places are beds, where you mostly inhale them.
The dust mite contains proteins. When these are inhaled or come to contact with the skin, the skin will produce antibodies to defend it from been attacked. This causes the skin to expand hence causing irritation.
If you are allergic to dust mite, you will experience hypersensitive reaction to protein from the dust mite’s droppings. The mite attacks the respiratory system which causes sneezing, asthma and even hay fever.
Symptoms
It may not be easy to know whether your child has the dust mite allergy as the symptoms are similar to that of a cold. These include:
- A running nose
- Itchy eyes
- Teary eyes
- Frequent sneezing
- Skin irritation
- Itchy throat
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Frequent rubbing of the nose
- Swollen eyes
- Crusting eye lids.
If the symptoms run for more than a week, it’s best to visit the doctor and have your child tested.
How can you keep away these allergies?
- Wash the beddings with hot water at least every two weeks
- Keep less furniture
- Dust the floor and other surfaces with a wet cloth at least twice a day.
- Replace the carpet with polished floor. If you have to have mats such as carpets, wash them every two days.
- Invest in vacuum cleaners.
- Plant grass outside your home to minimize dust.
- Keep your general environment clean.
- Take heed to the doctor’s advice and give medicines as prescribed
- If the dust allergy gets out of control, seek the doctors’ attention.
- Opt for a good quality detergent that removes the dust.
- You can also purchase allergy relief medication.
- Using a de-humidifier will help to keep you room dry hence avoiding the dust mites.
- After mopping wash the rug with soap and dry it in the sun. This is because a dumpy rug can be a hiding place for dust mites.
- It’s also advisable to air blankets in the sun on a weekly basis so as to kill dust mites hiding within the blankets.
END: BL 34 / 11