Bed mites: how to identify and how to remove parasites

The bed or linen mite is an insect so small that it is impossible to see it without a microscope. But, despite its size, it causes great harm to humans: it causes allergic reactions, rhinitis, and skin diseases. It is useful for everyone to know how to get rid of bed mites so that they no longer bother you.

More about the parasite

One of the human companions, the linen or bed mite, lives for several hundred years and is distributed in all parts of the world. He feels comfortable with a person. It feeds on dead skin cells, dandruff, lost hair, hides in the folds of dirty bed linen, in pillows, blankets, mattresses and feels great in a dusty room that has not been cleaned for a long time.

Note! A person does not notice the presence of a bed mite if he has good immunity and does not know what an allergic reaction is.

Sensitive people have it more difficult. Their skin and respiratory organs respond to pest bites with endless runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and skin irritations in the form of a small red rash.

It is possible to examine a bed mite (it is a type of saprophyte) only with the help of a microscope, it is so small.

A tick (as we see it in photographs) looks like this:

• yellow-brown;
• the body is flattened, covered with chitin;
• length – from 0.2 to 0.6 mm;
• six limbs with suction cups;
• head in the shape of a triangle.

An adult tick lives for a month and a half, during which time the female lays more than three hundred eggs.

More information about feather mites

Many people prefer to use exclusively natural feather pillows for sleeping. Such bedding is characterized by maximum softness and comfort. Under such circumstances, you will not even realize that there are many different microorganisms in the pillow. Dust mites are microscopic in size and are not even visible to the naked eye. The pests are inactive and feed on human skin secretions, dandruff and sweat. On the one hand, cohabitation does not bring any harm, but the problem lies in completely different circumstances.

All types of mites are dangerous, but feather mites are one of the most aggressive sources of allergies. During their life, parasites deposit a lot of excrement. Microscopic elements settle in large quantities on the respiratory tract of a sleeping person, as a result of which a number of diseases manifest themselves:

• Dermatitis;
• Allergy;
• Edema;
• Hives.

Children often suffer from such diseases and it becomes incredibly difficult to determine the cause. That is why allergists often send the patient to take special tests, after which the reaction to the appearance of irritants in the blood will be clearly visible. If the immune system is weakened, then the situation becomes significantly worse.

Why and how bed bugs appear at home

There is still no exact answer to the question of where linen mites come from in a person’s apartment. Their appearance and presence do not indicate unsanitary conditions. They even live in places where they monitor cleanliness, regularly change bed linen, wash clothes and shake out bedding. Their population may be so small that people do not notice them.

In homes where cleaning is done poorly, and bed linen is changed once a month or less often, dandruff and dead particles of human skin and hair accumulate in dust and folds of fabric - what bed mites love. Having received food, the parasite begins to multiply, and its population in the apartment increases sharply. A female linen mite lays up to 300 eggs per day. More than a hundred of these adult individuals live in a gram of dust.

Linen mites are transmitted by:

• people (with clothes);
• pets (cats, dogs, birds);
• other insects living in human homes (cockroaches, bedbugs).

Due to the fact that the linen mite can be brought from anywhere, it is impossible to understand how and when it appeared in our house.

It lives in the same place as people, because it feeds on human dandruff, pieces of human hair and particles of dead skin and nails. It is easy to pick up a linen mite from another person, especially an untidy one. This parasite thrives in the folds of clothes that have not been washed for a long time, and in hats.

Dogs and cats, which love to lie in bed and on a person’s bed, carry on their fur up to a dozen different invisible pests, including bed mites. Having met other pets on the street while walking, they exchange the inhabitants of their fur, and the tick ends up in another house, where it begins to look for food.

Important! Cockroaches and bedbugs - companions of unsanitary conditions - carry dirt, infection and dust on their legs and bellies, and along with the dust - linen mites.

Linen or bed mites live where it is warm and dusty, close to food. Habitats can be:

• in soft toys;
• in mattresses;
• on shelves with books;
• in bed linen;
• under furniture where dust accumulates;
• in woolen clothes, blankets and bedspreads;
• in feather pillows;
• in old cotton blankets.

The tick also loves carpets and rugs made of natural pile, curtains and furniture upholstery. That is, all those places where people cannot reach during cleaning.

Main types of house ticks

House ticks are a separate biological group of parasites that live in the residential environment. They not only spoil food, clothing and furniture, but also affect the health of humans and animals.

The following types of ticks can appear and reproduce in the living environment:

• Hairy house tick . This pest lives in flour, grain, plant and animal residues, and even in cheese and tobacco. Such mites actively develop at a temperature of 23-25 ​​degrees and a relative air humidity of 80-90%. They can cause dermatitis in humans;
• Scabies mite (itching) . It develops and parasitizes only on humans in high humidity and warmth. It is the causative agent of scabies;
• Rat mite . The parasite primarily attacks rats, but, in the absence of a natural host, can attack other mammals, as well as humans. Rat mites cause a difficult to treat disease - rat mite dermatitis. This parasite is common in rural areas and poses a danger to its inhabitants;
• Chicken mite . This type of parasite is widespread throughout the world. Mainly lives in nests and droppings of birds, cracks of wooden surfaces. Can parasitize on the surface of human skin, causing skin rashes and irritations;
• Bird mite . This tick parasitizes wild and domestic birds, that is, it lives in close proximity to humans and is capable of attacking them.

Household ticks are dangerous not only because of their bites, but also because of the impact of their own feces on humans and pets.

Signs of presence in the house

We cannot see the linen mite. We feel it. When the tick population is small, our respiratory organs do not perceive the parasite, but as soon as it increases, the body reacts sensitively.

Signs of the presence of bed mites:

• redness on the skin;
• sneezing without a cold or other illness;
• dry cough;
• sleep disturbance;
• nervousness;
• fast fatiguability.

Redness and rash on the skin are often accompanied by fever. There are cases where an undetected allergy to linen mites led to the development of bronchial asthma.

Note! If suddenly one of your family members begins to regularly sneeze and cough for no reason, he may be allergic to bed mites.

What harm do they cause to humans?

Since bed mites do not feed on human blood and do not leave bites on the skin, when present in the house in minimal quantities they do not cause significant harm. But the danger increases in direct proportion to the increase in the population indoors. The fact is that bed mite feces and the chitinous cover shed during molting contain a strong allergen that can cause acute painful reactions in some people.

One individual defecates about 25 times a day.

First of all, we are talking about manifestations from the respiratory system. Doctors say that inhaling the feces and chitin of dust mites, which include bed mites, is one of the most common causes of asthma. Skin manifestations are also observed - the formation of bumps and scratches, causing severe itching. This brings emotional discomfort to a person. Constant proximity can lead to chronic irritability or insomnia. Therefore, the destruction of bed mites should begin immediately after signs of their presence in the rooms appear.

What to do if an allergic reaction is detected

If suspicions are confirmed and one of the family members is found to be allergic to the linen mite, it is necessary to begin to fight it and prevent the population from increasing.

1. Replace pillows and blankets. And do not buy products filled with cotton wool, wool and fluff.
2. Do some general cleaning. Vacuum not only floors and carpets, but also walls, curtains, furniture, and books. Get rid of old unnecessary things.
3. Change the covers of decorative pillows.
4. Accustom yourself and your loved ones to regular wet cleaning and changing bed linen at least once a week.
5. Replace a regular vacuum cleaner with a device with an aqua filter. In the bag of a regular vacuum cleaner, mites reproduce well.

Fighting methods

You need to fight the linen mite using different methods:

• mechanical;
• chemical;
• natural.

Each method has its own characteristics. So, bed mites - bites, photos, symptoms, how to get rid of them.

Mechanical method

Fighting bed mites using mechanical methods means general cleaning or sanitation of the premises. At this stage, you should remove pillows stuffed with feathers and bird down, wool and cotton blankets, replace the mattress, vacuum upholstered furniture, carpets, curtains, remove dust under cabinets, beds and where seasonal clothes are stored. The vacuum cleaner bag must be thrown away immediately and replaced with a new one.

Expensive bedding can be taken to a dry cleaner, they will tell you at what temperature pests die and process the items.

Chemical method

Chemical methods of combating bed mites include special preparations, which can be purchased at household chemical stores, and disinfection of the premises. Disinfection of apartments and houses is carried out by special services; spraying strong drugs on your own is strongly not recommended.

Natural method

Natural methods are regular wet cleaning, ventilation of rooms, change of linen and bedding.

MITTE SENSITIZATION AND DUST MITE ALLERGY

This is the main danger that insects can cause. Their excrement contains strong allergens Der p1, Der f1 - digestive enzymes that break down the epidermis. In susceptible individuals, they can cause any type of allergy: respiratory, contact or food. It all depends where the allergen hits:

• When inhaling ticks or their metabolic products, a tick-borne allergy of the respiratory tract occurs. Its most common forms are allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. It is pyroglyphids that are to blame for 50% of cases of all allergic rhinitis.
• Upon contact with skin or mucous membranes, a contact allergy develops - allergic dermatitis, conjunctivitis. Skin lesions directly associated with any type of mite are called acarodermatitis.
• When dust is ingested with food and the tick enters the gastrointestinal tract, intestinal acariasis can develop. A rare disease characterized by abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Not all people who come into contact with dust mites develop an allergic reaction. The soil is needed - genetic predisposition or atopy. For a healthy person, a parasite concentration of 100 individuals per 1 g of dust is safe. For “atopic” this is enough for the manifestation of the disease. Upon first contact with a tick, a predisposed person develops tick-borne sensitization . This is a state of hypersensitivity to an allergen. There are no symptoms yet, but the immune system has already begun to produce specific allergic antibodies (and/or lymphocytes), which settle on target cells and wait to “meet” the allergen. As soon as it occurs, a complex biochemical process is launched with the release of a mass of damaging biologically active substances. The result can be local allergic inflammation, as well as severe systemic reactions up to the development of anaphylactic shock.

Attention! Hereditary predisposition, frequent contact with bed mites, and childhood are three risk factors for the development of tick-borne sensitization and allergies. Exposure to pyroglyphides at an early age can trigger bronchial asthma. It has been established that 70% of cases of this disease in childhood occur precisely due to the fault of the insect.

What symptoms indicate an allergy to house dust mites?

• While making the bed, knocking out or sweeping, sneezing, nasal congestion or runny nose, red eyes, and coughing begin. In severe cases, an attack of bronchial asthma may develop with difficulty breathing and wheezing when exhaling.
• Respiratory symptoms may accompany the appearance of skin rashes (allergic dermatitis or eczema). Parts of the body that come into contact with dust are affected (hands, neck, legs, etc.), but the process can spread to wide areas throughout the body. The rash occurs in the form of itchy red spots, less often blisters.

• Symptoms intensify in rooms where there are many objects that collect dust (carpets, soft toys, curtains, animals), as well as during periods of active insect reproduction (early autumn).

Diagnosis of tick-borne allergy

For this, a clinical picture and examination by a doctor are not enough. Respiratory symptoms are quite similar to colds, and skin manifestations are not at all specific. You can accurately determine the cause using:

Maybe you will be interested to know and read what fabric no parasite can live in: Silk blanket with silk filling: reviews, pros and cons (matrasium.ru)

Skin prick test

A simple diagnostic method. Marks are made on the skin of the forearm, next to which various allergens are placed, including dust mites. Use a special device to make surface scratches and wait 15 minutes. If there is sensitization, redness (swelling or blister) will form at the site of the incision.

Determination of Ig E antibodies to house dust mites

High precision method. Blood is donated from a vein on an empty stomach. It is prescribed for questionable skin test results, as well as to resolve the issue of allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT).

How to deal with allergies

When the first symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor. If you experience shortness of breath, an attack of suffocation, or your face or neck begins to swell (Quincke's edema), you need to call an ambulance. Medicines that alleviate allergies:

• Antihistamines (suprastin, loratadine, etc.) can relieve itching, eliminate lacrimation, and runny nose. Skin rashes turn pale or disappear completely. Oral administration is usually prescribed in a short course of 7-10 days. There are local forms (spray, cream, gel).
• Decongestants or vasoconstrictors are intended to relieve swelling and facilitate nasal breathing;
• Oral corticosteroids are prescribed for severe forms of allergies. Local forms are more often used (nasal spray, aerosol inhaler for bronchial asthma, ointment and cream). They are superior to all other drugs in their ability to block allergic inflammation.
• Antileukotriene drugs are effective in the treatment of respiratory tract allergies, especially bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. Prescribed to children from 2 years of age.

The only method of non-symptomatic treatment of respiratory allergies that can achieve stable remission is allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT). The method treats the cause of the disease by introducing increasing doses of the causative allergen to the patient. There is a change in immunological reactivity and the development of tolerance to a significant allergen. The method is safe and is carried out as prescribed by an allergist-immunologist.

How to get rid of bed mites at home

The linen mite is a microscopic parasite that will always be next to a person in a house where they do not like cleaning. It is difficult to get rid of the linen mite permanently, but it is possible to defeat large colonies. There are special chemical preparations that help get rid of linen mites at home, as well as folk remedies.

The use of chemicals, regular cleaning and sanitation of premises allows you to remove the maximum number of bed mites at home.

Folk remedies for getting rid of insects

Medicinal herbs and plants can help get rid of ticks. Place wormwood, rosemary and tansy in places that are difficult to reach for a vacuum cleaner and wet cleaning: their strong aromas repel pests. Regularly replace branches that have lost their aroma and shake off room dust.

For those who do not like to use chemicals, but want to remove linen mites themselves, the following recipe will help:

• take ¼ cup of liquid soap and a liter of water at room temperature, combine and stir thoroughly;
• Pour ½ cup of ammonia into the resulting solution with continuous stirring;
• Add the prepared solution to the drum of the washing machine with bed linen and wash the floors in the apartment with it.

Subcutaneous mite

It is necessary to consider the types of subcutaneous mites as another pest that can coexist unnoticed with humans. By analogy with dust, subcutaneous dust cannot be noticed independently. You can only guess the possibility of its presence based on persistent skin problems, including rashes, dermatitis and allergies. Among the factors contributing to the appearance of demodicosis are stressful situations. Where do subcutaneous mites come from:

• Impaired functioning of the digestive system;
• Malfunctions of the endocrine system;
• Low activity of the immune system;
• Incorrect diet;
• Improper daily hygiene.

Thus, anyone can become a victim of demodicosis. The pest's favorite habitat is the face, and much less often the shoulders or back. If you suspect the presence of a subcutaneous mite, you should immediately contact a dermatologist and take the appropriate tests. On an individual basis, the doctor will select the optimal treatment program and help you get rid of the irritant that is preventing you from leading a full life in the shortest possible time.

Prevention methods

Disinfection and sanitation of premises against bed mites is an extreme measure, and it is better not to resort to it. Simple measures will help prevent an increase in the population of linen mites:

• regularly wash and vacuum children's soft toys;
• replace feather pillows and duvets with new ones with anti-allergenic fillings;
• replace wool carpets with cotton or synthetic ones;
• change mattresses regularly;
• change bed linen at least once a week;
• ventilate the rooms, maintain the temperature in them no higher than 22 degrees;
• clean upholstered furniture;
• Don’t get carried away with humidifiers, mites love humidity.

If family members suddenly develop unexplained allergic symptoms, an allergist and this article will tell you how to get rid of them. Linen mites can be dealt with, and time and regular cleaning of the premises will help.

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Favorite places to live

The more carpets, upholstered furniture and other textile decorations and interior items there are in the house, the more and faster dust will form in it. For example, carpets are a favorite habitat for dust mites. A huge amount of “provisions” always settles on them. The next photo shows dust mites that feel great among carpet textile fibers.

Separately, it is worth mentioning feather and down pillows, as well as mattresses. Scientists managed to have a hand here too, calculating that up to two million dust mites constantly live in an ordinary average double bed. And feather and down fillings, if there is a lack of food, can themselves become food for these microscopic creatures.

Household and other appliances deserve a special mention. Old monitors, stereos and DVD players are potential cities and breeding grounds for dust mites. There is always a lot of dust among the microcircuits, capacitors, resistors and other radio equipment, but if there is a lot of dust, and no one cleans it out for a long time, mites live in it especially freely.