Dust mite allergy

The mite's gut contains potent digestive enzymes (notably peptidase 1) that persist in their feces and are major inducers of allergic reactions such as wheezing.

[6] Severe dust mite infestation in the home has been linked to atopic dermatitis, and epidermal barrier damage has been documented.

[10][11] Exposure to inhaled tropomyosins from dust mites is thought to be the primary sensitizer for shellfish allergy, an example of inhalant-to-food cross-reactivity.

[10][13] In addition to tropomyosin, the proteins arginine kinase and hemocyanin seem to have a role in cross-reactivity to dust mites.

[18] House dust mites did not become a problem until humans began to use textiles, such as western style blankets and clothing.

Here, the dust mites are beneficial as they return cotton to its original state after it has degraded by contact with bare skin.

However, they can survive if the humidity is high just for an hour and a half per day, for example due to moisture released to the air when cooking food.

[31] HDM-SLIT tablet, House Dust Mites (Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) Allergen Extract (brand names: Odactra, Acarizax, Miticure), is an allergen extract for the immunotherapic treatment of adolescents (12–17 years)[35] and adults (18–65 years).

[38] It has been approved in Japan, Russia, Southeast Asia, Turkey, the Middle East,[39] New Zealand, and several European countries.