Allegory : Dust Mites?

Question

My sister is allegic to Dust Mites and she gets red bumps (similar to Mosquito bits but they aren't) when she sleeps at night. Her doctor prescribed her ointment but even when she sleeps on that bed, she always gets bitten. We switched beds for one night and on my bed, she didn't get bits.

What does that mean? What can I do to prevent red bumps/dust mite bites from getting to her? Or does it mean something else?

Thanks!

Answer 1

It is not uncommon for a mattress to harbor an average-sized colony of 2 million dust mites, living, thriving, and breeding, within the micro-habitat of the mattress. As per the U.S. EPA, dust mites are the #1 cause of poor, home indoor air quality. Although dust mites don't bite, your sister may still be having an allergic reaction to "guanine", a potent and harmful allergen found in dust mite feces and dust mite exoskeletons (dead dust mite body parts/pieces). Each dust mite defecates 20-30 times per day, which is translates into a daily build-up of 40-60 million fecal pellets per day...day after day, after day!

The fecal pellets are 20 microns in size. Both the pellets and the exoskeletons are so light in weight that each time a person rolls over in bed (average # of times is 50-60 each night) or simply fluffs a pillow, these particles become airborne, remain airborne for up to 2 hours, and are easily inhaled. Because the allergen is so light-weight, it is easily spread throughout the entire home.

Aside from dust mites in mattresses, there is also a large accumulation of shed human skin (prime nourishment for dust mites), pollen, spores, mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, and pet dander, all of which lead to a very unhygienic mattress. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) has stated that 50% of ALL illnesses may be due to, or aggravated by, poor, home indoor air quality (which we know is mostly caused by dust mites and where do they live?...mattresses).

There are 3 solutions to cope with the problem;

1). allergy shots or medications (revenue to big pharmaceutical companies is in the billions each year) or,
2). cover-up the dust mites (300 microns in size) with special and costly mattress and pillow enclosures which will contain dust mites but not necessarily the smaller fecal pellets, exoskeletons, pollen, spores, mold, mildew, bacteria, and viruses.

Due to recent technological advances, a third and cost-efficient solution is now available. This solution best addresses the problem...at the source(s). Professional mattress cleaning technicians performing an odorless, hypoallergenic, non-toxic, non-flammable, biodegradeable and environmentally friendly, chemical free "dry-method" cleaning, can service your mattresses by:

1). vacuuming the micro-contaminants with HEPA rated vacuums (different than vacuums with just HEPA rated filters)
2). utilizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) light to alter the DNA in any remaining organisms which prevents them from reproducing and and hastens their death, and
3). applying to the surfaces, a very light enzyme mist. The enzyme's thwart growth of new colonies and "eat away" micro-contaminants and organic stains.

Dust mites also live in the soft-furnishings of a home, such as upholstered sofas, recliners, and chairs all of which also provide, to a lesser extent than mattresses, a micro-habitat ideal for dust mites survival.

If a person happens to live in Europe, Australia, or even in SE Asia, they will have access to mattress cleaning services. If your sister lives in the U.S., she will have a very limited source of professional mattress cleaners. Carpet cleaners may claim to clean mattresses, but typically will clean them just as they would a carpet. Never use steam, never "wet" the mattress, and never, ever, use chemicals...this cleaning method induces the growth of mold, mildew, and will leave traces of chemicals behind.

If your sister cannot locate a professional mattress cleaning technician in her area, the next best thing she can do is to service the mattress herself (provided she doesn't suffer from asthma or other respiratory diseases besides her allergy to dust mites) or by someone she knows who is not allergic to dust mite guanine.

For those persons without the benefit of local mattress cleaning services, I have written an ebook "76 Tips to Reduce Dust Mites and Indoor Allergens" and the content is available at the link below:
http://www.sterilmattress.com/ebook_dust_mite_removal_tips.html

Good luck and best wishes to you and to your sister.

Answer 2

The red bumps are hives (also sometimes called welts or weals). The mites aren't biting her - she is having an allergic reaction to breathing in dust that contains dead mites and mite waste products. This is why keeping a room clean is so important. Many household vacuums don't collect things as small as mites, and if they don't catch mites, vacuuming only stirs up the fine dust and puts mites into the air for hours.

Hives are a sign of a moderately strong allergic reaction. In addition to removing the source by cleaning, she could try taking an antihistamine a short time before bedtime - something like benedryl. This might provide some additional relief. If this looks like a long-term problem, she might benefit from seeing an allergist. Allergies to dust mites is very common, and there is a serum that people can take to become de-sensitized to mites and other allergens - this eliminates the need for drugs.

Answer 3

I'm surprised the doctor didn't talk to you guys more about how to help with this problem. To reduce exposure to dust mites, your sister should encase her mattress and box springs in a zippered, dust-proof encasing (a bag for the mattress usually made out of plastic). It's a good idea to run a strip of tape over the zipper once you have the encasing in place, as this will help trap the dust mites inside the bag, as well. Additionally, your sister's sheets and blankets should be washed regularly (once a week) in hot water. Pillows should also be put in zippered encasings, or else be washed weekly. Your sister should also avoid lying on upholstered furniture or on carpet -- two more places where dust mites can usually be found.

Any carpet you can remove from the house is also going to help -- you should at least remove all carpet from her room and replace it with area rugs that can be washed regularly. The house and her room in particular should be vacuumed weekly, at a time when she is NOT AROUND (as the vacuuming will kick the dust mites up into the air). It's also important that the air in your house be as dry as possible -- getting a dehumidifier for your sister's room might help a lot as well.

Mostly, the secret is to keep the bed and house as clean as possible. You can't ever get rid of all the dust mites, but taking the above steps will help reduce the number of them, at the very least. Allergy to dust mites is pretty common and it can cause asthma in some people as well as a rash, which is pretty serious. Good luck!