Source · category
House dust mites
Also: Dermatophagoides, Der p 1, mite allergen
Microscopic arachnids that live in bedding, carpets and upholstery, feeding on shed skin. Their faecal particles are the most common indoor allergen and a major trigger of asthma and rhinitis; they need relative humidity above about 50 % to thrive.
Why it matters indoors
Dust mite populations track humidity: below 50 % relative humidity they dry out and decline, which is why mite allergen is lower in dry climates and in well-ventilated, heated bedrooms. Allergen levels are measured in dust as micrograms of Der p 1 per gram; 2 µg/g is the sensitisation threshold most often cited, 10 µg/g the level associated with asthma symptoms. Control means humidity, washing bedding hot, allergen-proof covers and removing carpets from bedrooms.
How strong is the evidence
-
In dwellings, a single study suggests that house dust mites and visible dampness or microbial growth go together with more symptoms related to asthma in adults.
A Claim is Coridum reading the Findings together, not a quotation from one study — according to Coridum. The grade follows the study designs behind it: A is the strongest, D means a single study or a mechanism.
Identifiers
- MeSH
- D039981
In the literature
- Ltd An overview of indoor air contaminants in New Zealand schools. CKB 0096
- Ltd An overview of indoor air contaminants in New Zealand houses. CKB 0095
- The clinical effects of hospitalization in a low pollutant room on atopic dermatitis… (2011). Asia Pacific allergy. doi:10.5415/apallergy.2011.1.2.87 CKB 0603
Studies in the Coridum Knowledge Base in which this term is used. The definition follows standard usage in WHO, ISO and textbook sources; it is not quoted from these papers.
CKB = document number in the Coridum Knowledge Base, our curated library of peer-reviewed studies. Follow the DOI for the original paper.