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Many wonder what do dust mites look like to a human eye? This is the right article to give you full details on this topic to help you lead a healthier, safer life.
Dust mites are a big concern for people across the US, and you need all the information you can get on them.
They can cause severe allergic reactions that could be fatal for those who suffer from respiratory system illnesses.
You need ways of spotting and eliminating them to prevent damage illnesses, so let us get into the details and find out more;
What Do Dust Mites Look Like To The Human Eye?
Dust mites are microscopic, so you cannot see them with the naked eye. Scopes record them to be about 0.2 to 0.3 mm long and have translucent bodies, making them harder to spot.
You can only see them with magnifying instruments like a microscope. They resemble ticks and spiders, but their smaller size makes them a more difficult menace.
Signs of Dust Mite Allergies
Dust mite allergies are the biggest concern, and one of the best ways of finding out you have an infestation.
You need to know these signs and spot them early to take the necessary precautions to eliminate the mites. The symptoms can be mild or severe but include;
- A runny or itchy nose due to the irritation of the sinuses by the allergens left behind by the dust mites.
- Postnasal drip is caused by inflammation in the nasal passages and sinuses due to dust mite allergens, which increase mucus production.
- Dust mite allergens can irritate the skin and make it itchy, especially if you have direct contact with bedding or furniture.
- Dust mites can cause inflammation and dilation of blood vessels in the nasal passages, which leads to nasal congestion and difficulty breathing.
- Allergens will cause sinuses’ inflammation, leading to sinus pressure and facial pain. Production of mucus and increased swelling will increase the pain.
- Itchy, watery red eyes are a common issue with dust mite allergies as the body releases histamines and other antibodies in response to the allergens.
- Inhaling dust mite allergens is caused through irrigation, which makes it scratchy or sore, especially when the allergens are in the air.
- Coughing is a common symptom since dust mites irritate the respiratory tract, and coughs are the body’s way of expelling them.
- Some victims will experience swollen, bluish-colored skin beneath the eyes due to dilated blood vessels because of inflammation.
- All of the above symptoms can disrupt sleep and become more pronounced when lying down.
You should remember that these are potential symptoms of a dust mite infestation, and you shouldn’t treat them without checking with a doctor.
Let them assess you and determine the actual cause of your reactions, and then they will give you the proper medication.
Why Are Dust Termites Such A Big Concern?
Dust termites are tiny critters we can’t even see, yet they seem a significant concern among experts.
The biggest problem with dust mites has always been their effects on people with allergies. Let us get into the details and understand more about this microscopic menace;
An allergy is an unnecessary reaction of the human body to a foreign substance that is harmless to the body.
Substances that trigger allergies are called allergens, and they are different for individuals, with some being okay with all of them.
Allergens could be foods, pollen, and, for most people, dust mites. People allergic to dust mites will get severe reactions from remnants of the critters. Dust mites leave behind waste products we can breathe in or contact.
When these waste products enter our bodies, the immune system panics to release antibodies against these harmless substances. This unnecessarily robust immune response causes symptoms that relate to dust mite allergy.
Research by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America suggests that over 20 million people in the United States suffer from this allergy. Long-term exposure to dust mite allergens can cause sinus infections and asthma.
Dead skin and other waste products from dust mites can also worsen asthma symptoms and reduce medication effectiveness. This will make asthma patients wheeze more and need more medication.
You might notice the symptoms are more severe when lying in a bed that has dust mites. The warm and spacious interior of mattresses is the best place for dust mites.
You must reduce the number of dust mites in your home, especially if you have family members with asthma.
Dust mites are small and produce little waste, so they can go unnoticed in most cases, and it may not be possible to eliminate them. The best thing is to reduce the threat and symptoms so you can live normally with a small dust mite population.
There are no medical treatments for dust mite allergies; you can only treat the symptoms they cause to people with allergies and asthma.
Over-the-counter allergy medication can help control your symptoms, but you must reduce the cause to feel permanently better.
You should talk to your doctor if you have a dust mite concern to see about any changes in your asthma medication dosage.
Some cases can be severe, especially in children and the elderly, so contact your doctor as soon as you notice any symptoms.
They may switch to a higher dosage or different medication to help you feel better while you get rid of the dust mites in your home.
How To Get Rid Of Dust Mites
Getting rid of dust termites will prove to be a difficult task because of their small size. They can hide pretty much anywhere, so it will be challenging to get rid of them, especially if you have a lot of clothing and furniture.
The best you can do is reduce their population so they don’t have enough waste to trigger allergic reactions. So how can you achieve this?
- Add a dustproof cover to your mattress. Most dust mites live in your mattress, so clean it and add a cover to prevent the accumulation of dust mites.
- Wash your bedding with boiling water every week. Boil water to about 140 degrees Celsius, destroying all the dust mites in the bedding and killing their eggs. Take necessary precautions to protect your children.
- Wash your pillow each week, then add a dustproof cover and pillowcase. This will keep the mites from building up and protect you from breathing the allergens.
- Dust mites thrive in moist, warm environments, so dry your bedding well on high heat so all the mites and allergens come off.
- Reduce the possibility of dust mites in the house. Avoid carpets since dust mites snowball in them as they get dirty easily. The ideal solution is to have a hardwood, tile, or linoleum floor bathroom.
- Damp-mop any hard floor surfaces once a week to remove all the dust and ensure they are well-dried afterward. Remove the carpets every few weeks and clean the floor underneath them for maximum effectiveness.
How To Prevent A Dust Mite Infestation In Your Home
Prevention is the best cure for most things; the same applies to dust mites. You should take necessary precautions to ensure you don’t have an infestation since it will be impossible to fix the problem. Here are a few pointers to keep your house dust-mite-free;
- Avoid carpeting your house if you can since carpets are the biggest attractions for dust mites. They quickly get dirty and have the warmth and conditions to raise a dust mite colony.
- You might have to install a carpet if you have a cold floor or want the house to be safer for kids. In this case, vacuum and deep clean the carpet and rugs as often as possible to eliminate potential infestations.
- Regularly dust your house and pay attention to furniture crevices, blinds, and other small hiding spots in which dust mites might hide.
- Dust mites thrive in high humidity conditions, so keeping the home humidity under 50% will reduce their reproduction rate and keep the population down.
- Dust mite allergen sometimes comes into your house through the air conditioning systems. Install allergen-capturing filters in all units and vacuums to clean the air and eliminate dust mites and their waste.
Conclusion
So, what do dust mites look like to the human eye? You now know that dust mites are microscopic, and you can see them with the naked eye. Despite their size, these translucent critters can infest your home and cause a lot of havoc on your respiratory system.
Dust mite wastes and dead skin cause severe reactions in people with asthma and allergies. You must take all the necessary precautions to keep their numbers down and protect your loved ones. Regular dusting and cleaning to eliminate dust is the best way to prevent an infestation.
