Since ancient times, humanity has been constantly fighting against such unpleasant parasites as bed mites or, more correctly, bed bugs. These annoying insects are distinguished by the fact that they are quite widespread. Today, many people complain of regular attacks by these insects. Many people do not know why bed ticks are so dangerous for humans, besides the appearance of painful bites. However, painful bites are, unfortunately, not the only problem that comes to a person with bed mites. Today, few people know what these small insects are and why their bites are dangerous. Thus, we propose to consider in great detail what kind of insects these are - bed mites, as well as what real dangers they pose for humans.
What do bites look like?
To understand what caused the rashes, you need to know what exactly bed mite bites look like on human skin.
During a bite, the domestic parasite releases an anesthetic substance into the skin, so the bite itself is imperceptible. The effect of the anesthetic lasts 20 minutes, so the tick has time to make several bites and get enough of it.
Where the tick has bitten, a dot of dried blood appears, and redness of the skin is observed around the bite. When a bite is detected, it is important not to scratch the affected area to avoid infection.
For your information!
Bed ticks are nocturnal, and during the day they rest in secluded corners. If bites appear during the day, it means that other parasites are to blame, but not them.
Signs and symptoms of a bed tick bite
- Unlike a mosquito bite, which will leave behind 1-2 red dots, a tick bite leaves many marks that will be accompanied by itching and will be painful on palpation. In some cases, swelling appears at the bite sites.
- The itching is so severe that it cannot be ignored. If you compare it with the itching after a wasp sting, it is a little weaker.
- Compared to bedbug bites, tick bites are larger and the redness is much brighter. If you can see the bug, you won't be able to see the tick.
Bed tick bites have another distinctive feature: the center of the bite looks like a lump with dried blood. Ticks attack a person while he is fast asleep. This time period occurs between 3-5 am.
With a massive accumulation of parasites, the appearance of new tick bites can be observed almost every morning. Insects prefer to bite children and women. If a person sleeps without clothes, the tick runs from place to place, making bites and thus looking for a more favorable place for itself.
A considerable number of people are trying to understand that ticks have appeared in their apartment.
There are dust mites in every apartment, the only difference is their number.
To understand how many there are, it is recommended to pay attention to the following things.
- interior items. Long pile carpets are a great place for pathogens to grow. In this situation, even a vacuum cleaner will not save you; it will only help disperse them around the apartment. To ensure effective cleaning, it is recommended to buy a vacuum cleaner with a filter. It is recommended to wash curtains once a week, although no one does this.
- Feather pillows are an ideal breeding ground for mites. Oddly enough, they are also found in synthetic winterizers. The exception is silicone pillows.
- Mattress. The longer a mattress is used, the more mites it contains.
The presence of dust in the house, uncleaned and unwashed things, dirt on the floor indicate that the house is full of parasites.
Even based on a person’s health status, one can understand that there are ticks in the house.
Symptoms:
- fatigue for no apparent reason;
- constant sneezing, coughing;
- there is chronic weakness;
- labored breathing;
- desire to go outside as soon as possible;
- eyes itch and become red;
- decreased immunity;
- Tears often flow from the eyes;
- snoring at night;
- runny nose in the morning;
- after sleep you want to sleep again;
- insomnia;
- skin rashes.
Many people notice that they don't want to be in their own home. But why such a desire arises is not clear to them. They mainly refer to feeling unwell, which quickly passes if they find themselves in a different environment.
A PEST THAT IS NOT SEEN
A dust mite (in other words – bed mite, linen mite, sofa mite, “farina”, pyroglyphide) is a microscopic arachnid insect. The average size is 0.2-0.3 mm. A specimen can only be seen well through a microscope.
An adult tick has 4 pairs of legs, a flattened body and no wings. The sensory apparatus allows you to navigate well in space even without eyes. The common name “dust mite” refers to about 150 species. Parasites live in colonies; in 1 g of dust their number varies from 10 to 30 thousand. The lifespan of an individual is up to four months. During this time, the female can lay about 350 eggs. In the apartment, dust mites live along the entire perimeter, concentrating on upholstered furniture, bedding, clothes, soft toys, bookshelves, and in dusty corners. When highly contaminated, they can be found in hair and skin. Remains of the epidermis, dandruff and hairs (their scales) serve as a source of food for them.
A person regularly supplies parasites with food, daily losing 1-2 g of the dead stratum corneum of the skin (that is why they are called synanthropic, coexisting with people). They are unpretentious to living conditions, but love high humidity and warmth. The comfort temperature range is 20-30 degrees. In an unheated room, the tick will overwinter and give birth to offspring as soon as it warms up. The parasite can be easily brought into the house. Most often it is carried with clothes in the spring and summer. The neighborhood can go unnoticed for a long time, because the tick does not bite and does not manifest itself until a certain time.
Why are bites dangerous?
As it turned out, dust mites do not directly interact with humans, but they can cause enormous harm to health. An adult parasite defecates up to 20 times per day.
Human skin, coming into contact with tick feces, becomes covered with red spots - an allergic reaction occurs. Manifestations of allergies can be different, even bronchial asthma is a consequence of human contact with ticks.
In rare cases, scabies develops as a result of contact with mite feces. A person's skin becomes covered with red sores. Scabies is always accompanied by itching. Sometimes an increase in temperature can be observed.
Parasites can carry various diseases, but linen mite bites do not infect humans. Apparently nature took care not to destroy the constant source of their food, because if a person dies, the population of parasites will disappear.
The effect of bites on humans:
- Depending on the immune system, each organism reacts differently to tick bites. Many people experience unbearable itching, hives, and rashes. The most dangerous outcome of an allergic reaction may be Quincke's edema. In such a combination of circumstances, a fatal outcome cannot be ruled out, so at the first sign of an allergy, you must call an ambulance. Each person is an individual, so it is impossible to predict how the body will react to an insect bite.
- Parasites are nocturnal, so they cause a lot of trouble. A person bitten by a tick cannot fall asleep for a long time, his mental balance is disturbed.
- After scratching, the wounds may fester.
If you don't fight dust mites, there can be so many of them that it will be very difficult to deal with them. Frequent bites can lead to iron deficiency anemia.
Symptoms of demodicosis of the eyes
With demodicosis of the eyelids, symptoms characteristic of this disease occur. Often the patient complains that even after minimal strain his eyes get tired. In addition, photosensitivity, burning and irritation of the eyes, itching, and heaviness of the eyelids appear.
Manifestations of demodicosis bring great discomfort to the patient. In this case, the edge of the eyelid usually becomes red, inflamed, accompanied by swelling, viscous and foamy discharge, which are localized in the corners of the eyes. Externally, scaly formations can be distinguished between the eyelashes.
If complications arise against the background of demodicosis of the eyelids, then the growth of ciliary hair is disrupted and atrophy occurs. Sometimes eyelashes simply fall out and their growth is disrupted. In addition, with this disease, ulcers, ulcers, plaque, and papillomas form along the edge of the eyelids. The eyelashes themselves are covered with sticky crusts.
Effective treatments
To treat unbearable itching on human skin after bed tick bites, medications and traditional medicine can be used.
Medications
If you suspect an autoimmune reaction to a dust mite bite, you should first visit an allergist who will prescribe appropriate treatment.
Medications to treat dust mite allergies:
- nasal drops and sprays;
- antihistamines.
The doctor may also prescribe corticosteroids if the allergy has become advanced.
When taking medications, you must remember that they only temporarily relieve allergy symptoms. To completely eliminate an allergen, you need to fight it.
Nasal drops and sprays:
- Aquamaris - solution for rinsing the nose;
- Tizin Alergy - nasal drops help relieve allergic rhinitis;
- Reactin - spray quickly relieves allergy symptoms;
- Vibrocil, Nazivin.
For domestic tick bites, the patient is also prescribed eye drops.
Antihistamines
Tablets, nasal sprays, and eye drops are used to treat allergies. In some cases, antihistamines are administered intramuscularly.
Currently, there are 4 generations of effective allergy medications. They are not addictive, perfectly relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of side effects. Medicines are actively used to treat dust mite allergies.
First generation drugs
Sedative medications have a strong effect, but have contraindications for use. The effect of the drugs lasts 6 hours.
This:
- Tavegil;
- Diphenhydramine;
- Fenkarol;
- Suprastin;
- Pipolfen;
- Meclizine.
First generation drugs are used to treat allergic reactions that cause difficulty breathing.
II generation drugs
This group of medications includes non-sedative medications.
Their use is recommended for skin itching and dermatitis:
- Trexil;
- Gistalong;
- Fenistil;
- Levocetrizine;
- Claritin;
- Zodak.
These drugs have a cardiotoxic effect and are therefore contraindicated for people with heart and vascular diseases.
III generation drugs
Medications are characterized by effective antihistamine properties:
- Zyrtec;
- Erius;
- Telfast.
III generation drugs are valued for their lack of side effects. They are often prescribed to treat allergies to dust mites.
The medications eliminate dermatitis, reduce asthma symptoms, and do not have a toxic effect on the cardiovascular system.
IV generation drugs
The most harmless medicines, however, are contraindicated for children and pregnant women.
These include:
- Bamipin;
- Desloratadine;
- Xizal;
- Levocetirizine.
The drugs do not make you sleepy and do not affect the heart.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine recipes help cope with allergic rashes on the body as a result of a bed tick bite.
Here are some popular methods:
- St. John's wort lotions help relieve itching. Preparation of infusion: 1 tbsp. crushed raw materials are poured into a glass of boiled water and left to infuse. Soak a cotton pad in the prepared product and apply it to the damaged area for half an hour.
- Effective medicinal herbs are calendula and chamomile. Lotions are also prepared on their basis.
- Places of dust mite bites on the human body should be wiped with a cotton pad soaked in pure vinegar.
- Luda cubes and tea bags help remove the tooth.
- Bite areas can be treated with plantain juice and aloe. Treatment is carried out several times a day. The juice of medicinal plants has an antibacterial effect.
- Toxins accumulate in the body. To remove them, it is recommended to drink several tablets of activated carbon.
- Onions and garlic will help scare off bloodsuckers. If you mix the juice of these plants together and apply it to the wound, the itching will decrease and rashes on the body will become less noticeable.
Essential oils of lemon, lavender, orange, wormwood, and juniper help with bites. Oils of pine needles, mint, and geranium are also effective.
Traditional recipes help cope with the manifestations of allergies at an early stage; if the process is started, it is recommended to use medications.
Preventing the appearance of ticks in the apartment
Regular maintenance of cleanliness to prevent the appearance of dust is the main condition for preventing the appearance of mites in the apartment.
Preventive actions:
- It is recommended to change bed linen weekly, followed by washing and ironing with a hot iron and steam.
- Every morning it is necessary to ventilate the sleeping area.
- It is recommended to replace carpets with fluffy pile with rugs with interwoven fibers.
- All things must be washed on time.
- If possible, you should remove books that no one reads, soft toys and unnecessary furniture.
- During general cleaning, you need to wipe furniture and floors with special products.
- Wet cleaning is carried out by adding salt to the water; it is advisable to ventilate at this time.
- A special cover will help protect the mattress from dust.
- Reducing air humidity and temperature helps reduce population numbers.
- In the summer, it is necessary to dry mattresses, blankets and pillows in direct sunlight.
- Upholstered furniture and carpets need to be vacuumed well.
During general cleaning, it is recommended to move away all furniture and roll up carpets to do wet cleaning even in hard-to-reach places. The less dust there is in the apartment, the more significantly the mite population will decrease.
You should know that you cannot completely get rid of dust mites, it is impossible to completely protect your home from their penetration, so you need to realistically assess the situation.
Daily cleaning of the room will reduce the number of dust mites in the air and prevent the development of allergies.
Preparations for eliminating mites and their allergens.
There are products for treating upholstered furniture, carpets, etc., as well as additives for washing items that cannot be washed at high temperatures. These products can be developed on the basis of benzyl benzoates (Acarosan), borates, tannins. Among preparations of plant origin, preparations based on non-allergenic extracts of certain plants (Easy Air) have proven themselves well. They are able to denature tick-borne and epidermal allergens (to a greater extent cat allergen). They do not contain chemical acaricides.
