Dust Mite Allergy
What should you do if you’re allergic to dust mites?
For people who test positive for dust mite allergy and have allergic symptoms, reduce exposure by managing the home environment as follows:
- Wash bed linens weekly in hot water at 60°C for 30 minutes to kill dust mites.
- Use dust-mite–proof covers for the mattress and pillows.
- Ensure bedroom ventilation to reduce humidity—open bedroom doors and windows for at least 1 hour a day, or maintain indoor relative humidity around 50%.
- Choose a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
- Clean the home and bedroom with a damp cloth.
- Avoid carpets and fabric-upholstered furniture in the bedroom.
- Do not keep plush/stuffed toys in the bedroom.
- Keep pets out of the bedroom.
- Sun-dry mattresses, pillows, and rugs in strong sunlight for at least 3 hours to help kill dust mites.
If symptoms do not improve after environmental control, see a doctor for medications such as antihistamines; if symptoms are severe, an intranasal corticosteroid spray may also be needed as appropriate.
New options for people with dust-mite allergy
For patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma caused by dust-mite allergy whose symptoms have not improved despite environmental control and optimal medications, allergen immunotherapy is an option. This targeted treatment can modify the immune system so the body tolerates dust mites better and symptoms improve.
Allergen immunotherapy for dust mites is available as both subcutaneous injections and sublingual (under-the-tongue) formulations. The two methods differ as follows:
- Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT): standardized dust-mite extracts are injected in small, regular doses. Initially, injections are given once weekly with gradual dose increases over 5–6 months until a maintenance dose is reached, then spaced to once monthly for 3–5 years before considering discontinuation. Allergic reactions may occur—such as hives, asthma, laryngeal swelling, hypotension, or anaphylaxis—so this treatment must be administered by an allergy specialist.
- Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT): an oral option held under the tongue. Suitable for those who dislike injections and convenient because it can be taken at home with infrequent clinic visits; severe systemic allergic reactions are uncommon.
Successful treatment with allergen immunotherapy requires consistent adherence for 3–5 years to achieve the best outcomes. As tolerance to dust mites develops, medication use may decrease and quality of life can improve.
