Health
In The Home
Dust
Mites
Dust
Mites
Like it or not, you are
probably sharing your home with millions of tiny dust mites. No matter how
particular you are, it's unlikely you'll be able to remove them
completely.
(NAC) House dust mites are
tiny creatures (about 0.3mm long) and transparent - you can't see them
without a microscope. They live in the dust that builds up around the
house, so you can also find them in carpets, bedding, beds, soft
furnishings and soft toys. Studies have shown that up to 85% of children
with allergic asthma are sensitive to house dust mites or, more
specifically, their droppings.
Source:
National Asthma Campaigns Brochure -'asthma in daily life'
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Help Where
it matters most
Market research revels that 28% of the population suffers from respiratory
allergies.
It is not fully understood
why some people develop asthma and others do not.
However, it’s generally
agreed that there are a number of contributing factors including genetics,
pollution, chemicals in foodstuffs and a reaction to dust in the air.
While possibly less severe,
sufferers from other allergic complaints such as eczema and allergic
rhinitis are also are also likely to find there condition worsened by
similar factors.
One factor from which no of
us can escape is house dust. House dust contains many different elements
including skin particles, soil, fabric from clothing and furniture and
paint particles. But the most important element a far as the allergy
sufferer is concerned is the mite’s digestive enzymes contained in their
droppings. An overwhelming weight of evidence suggests that childhood
asthma is the most frequently caused by exposure to these droppings during
early infancy.
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The Hidden Menace
The house dust mite is a microscopic creature measuring only 0.3mm. They
live in their millions in every household in a warm a moist habitat such
as bedding, soft furnishings and carpets. The house dust mite feeds on
mould and skin particles and is virtually impossible to eradicate
completely.
The Dust mite itself is
unlikely to be inhaled since it will usually attach itself firmly to
whatever it has selected as it’s home. However, the debris of the dust
mite will become airborne posing a threat to anyone with an allergic
condition. Although the dust mite will live for only about four months, in
that time it will produce around 200 times it’s own weight in droppings
and lay around 80 eggs. It’s clear that the danger caused by the dust
mite can grow at an alarming rate over a very short period of time.
Source:
Kingsmead Carpets
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This page was last updated on 28 March 2001 11:26:20
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