THE MATTRESS MEDIC - ALLERGY SUFFERERS

WHAT IS HOUSE DUST MITE ALLERGY?

House mite allergy is a hypersensitive reaction to proteins in the excretion of dust mites. The protein attacks the respiratory passages causing hay fever and asthma. It will aggravate atopic dermatitis in people who have a tendency to this problem.

House dust mites are found in all homes. They are microscopic organisms that thrive in warm and humid houses with lots of food - human skin. The mites prefer to live in beds and, because we spend about a third of the day in bed, we inhale large quantities of dust mite allergens.

HOW DO YOU BECOME ALLERGIC TO HOUSE DUST MITES?

The excretion of the mites contains a number of protein substances. When these are inhaled or touch the skin, the body produces antibodies. These antibodies cause the release of a chemical called histamine that leads to swelling and irritation of the upper respiratory passages - typical asthma and hay fever symptoms.

Unlike pollen, dust mites are present all year round causing constant allergy - 'perennial' allergic rhinitis. The excretion from the mites dries out and can be launched into the air when someone walks over a rug, sits down in a chair, or shakes the bed clothes, giving allergic people immediate symptoms.

KEY FACTS:

• 5.4 million people in the UK are currently receiving treatment for asthma: 1.1 million children (1 in 11) and 4.3 million adults (1 in 12).
  
  
• There were 1,204 deaths from asthma in the UK in 2008 (29 were children aged 14 years or under).
  
  
• On average, 3 people per day or 1 person every 7 hours dies from asthma.
  
  
• An estimated 75% of hospital admissions for asthma are avoidable and as many as 90% of the deaths from asthma are preventable.
  
  
• 42% of people with allergies say that their allergies affects their social life.
  
  
• 61% of people with asthma say that their asthma stops them from getting a good night's sleep.