The house dust mites have been invading people’s homes for thousands of years, and they typically trigger or aggravate allergic rhinitis and asthma, especially in young kids. Yet, everybody is still not taking them seriously. People have learned to live with them because nobody knows any better.
According to estimates, about 20 million Americans are allergic to dust mites. On a global scale, about 1-2% of the population is affected by the house dust mites. That might not seem a lot, but in real terms, it translates to about 70 million to 140 million people.
How Many Dust Mites Live In Your Home?
Typically, you sweep the floor, clean the surfaces with a disinfectant, and vacuum the carpet. As long as you do not see any visible dust, you think that your house is already clean. Still, it is impossible to get rid of something invisible to the naked eye.
The only option is to look for an air purifier for dust, and buy the product to typically solve the issue since the dust mites live in house dust, hence the name. Now, it does not mean that you have dust mites because your house is dirty. However, it is also true that even if you vacuum, you still would not get rid of about 95% of the dust mites.
It is difficult to ascertain how much dust mites are present in one’s room. You are looking at from one million to 20 million. They replicate quite fast as the adult female lays about 40 to 80 eggs. And their life cycle ranges from 65 days to 100 days.
How to Know if You Have Dust Mites in Your Home
It is safe to assume that dust mites spare no house. You can assume that there are already millions of microscopic bugs in your home. It should be marked that not all people are allergic to these pests. It seems that the allergens can either be hereditary or developed over time.
There are also other conditions that allow dust mites to thrive. For instance, if your house is humid or hot. These bugs love homes with temperatures of 65-75°F or humidity of 70% to 80%. Areas with humid climates are also the perfect laboratory for these bugs to thrive.
However, these are the common signs and symptoms to watch out for.
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Runny nose
- Congested nose
- Sneezing
- Watery eyes
- Facial pressure
If any of your family has developed the conditions stated above, especially if these ailments appeared out of nowhere, then you might have some dust mites in your house. You need to purchase an air purifier for dust to protect your family. People with asthma are especially vulnerable as they are 50% more susceptible to dust mite allergy. Even if you have no asthma or are not predisposed to dust mite allergy, you can also develop it through prolonged exposure to the bug.
Treatment of the allergy includes antihistamines or steroids, depending on the doctor’s prescription. There are also emergency allergy shots for severe conditions. Finally, you can get tested to determine if you are allergic to dust mites. You can’t fully eliminate dust mites, but you can mitigate the damage they cause to a person’s health. And that includes installing an air purifier for dust in your home.
