MITES
- Any of about 20,000 species of tiny arthropod invertebrates belonging to the subclass Acari
- sometimes Acarina, or Acarida, of the class Arachnida.
Mites live in varied habitats: in brackish water, in fresh water, in hot springs, in soil, on plants, and as parasites on and in animals. Parasitic forms may live in the nasal passages, lungs, stomach, or deeper body tissues of animals. Some mites are carriers of human and animal diseases. Plant-feeding mites cause damage by feeding on leaf tissues or by transmitting viral diseases.
Mites are small, often microscopic in size—the smallest being about 0.1 mm (0.004 inch)
in length and the largest being about 6 mm (0.25 inch)—and they usually have four pairs of legs. In general, they breathe by means of tracheae, or air tubes; in many species, however, respiration takes place through the skin.
House-dust allergy is caused by species of Dermatophagoides, a common arthropod.
Dust
Mites are especially abundant in mattresses, carpets, pillows, winter clothing and sometimes
on household pets, like DOGS.
One double-bed may have as many as
500 million mites and there are 47 known species of
dustmites. Just like
FLEAS,
dust-mites have evolved and developed to accommodate individual animals who are their "
host ". There are 11 species of mites that have been found on mattresses and in
bedding, others prefer human skin scales and others gravitate towards dogs, cats and birds.
Asthma
sufferers are one particular group who can go through quite a lot of discomfort because
allergies caused by the dust-mite.
ALLERGENS
Learn More, Be More
The House Dust
Mite [DUSTMITE] or HDM as some allergists refer to it, is a
multinational visitor to human habitation.
Dust mites feed on
the organic detritus that is produced by the Human Animal, such as
flakes of human skin.
They flourish in
the enduring environment of our homes and outhouses, living out their
lives sometimes unbeknown to their host.
House dust mites
are a common cause of asthma and other allergic symptoms worldwide.
Some of the gut
enzymes, notably proteases, produced by the house mite persist in their
fecal matter, and can be strongly allergenic.
The European house
dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) and the American house
dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) are two different species,
but are not necessarily confined to Europe or North America; a third
species Euroglyphus maynei also occurs widely.
Bacteria
- Microscopic single-celled organisms found wherever life is possible. Generally 0.0001–0.005 mm long, they may be spherical
(coccus), rodlike
(bacillus), or spiral-shaped (spirillum) and often occur in chains or clusters of cells. True bacteria have a rigid cell wall, which may be surrounded by a slimy capsule, and they often have long
whip-like flagella for locomotion and short hair-like pili used in a form of sexual reproduction. A few bacteria can use simple chemical substances, including carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, to manufacture their own nutrients, but most require a source of carbon derived from living organisms (i.e. organic carbon) plus other nutrients for growth. Some bacteria can reproduce every 15 minutes, leading to rapid population growth.
The most important role of bacteria is in decomposing dead plant and animal tissues and releasing their constituents to the soil (see
carbon cycle). Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil or sea convert atmospheric nitrogen gas to nitrites and nitrates, which can then be used by plants (see
nitrogen cycle). Cheese making and fermentation reactions depend on bacteria. Bacteria also play an important part in animal digestion, especially in ruminants. However, certain (pathogenic) species may cause disease while others, such as Salmonella, can cause
food poisoning.
How
Does Your Body Fight Infection?
Immunity
- The resistance of the body to infection, especially resistance due to
antibodies. Babies have passive immunity from antibodies transferred from the mother’s blood through the placenta. Active immunity involves the formation of antibodies after exposure to an antigen
- bacteria that invade the body during an infection are antigens. The two different kinds of immune response produced by antibodies involve: white blood cells called T-lymphocytes
- produced by the thymus, which produce cells with antibody properties bound to their surface and are responsible for such reactions as graft rejection; B-lymphocytes, which produce cells that release free antibody into the blood.
Leucocyte
- lymphocytes - or white blood cell. A colorless cell found in large numbers in the blood. There are several kinds, all involved in the body’s
defense mechanisms. Granulocytes and monocytes destroy and feed on bacteria and other microorganisms that cause infection
- see also phagocyte. The lymphocytes are involved with the production of
antibodies.
Phagocyte
- A cell that engulfs and then digests particles from its surroundings: this process is called phagocytosis. In vertebrate animals, phagocytes are a type of white blood cell that protect the body by engulfing bacteria and other foreign particles.
Immunization is the production of immunity by an injection containing antibodies against specific diseases
e.g. tetanus and diphtheria, which provides temporary passive immunity, or by
vaccination, which produces the longer lasting active immunity.
Antibody
- A protein produced by certain white blood cells -
lymphocytes that reacts with a particular foreign particle e.g. a
bacterium, that has entered the body. The antibody helps to destroy the foreign particle,
known as the antigen. If the same bacteria invade the body in future, many more of the same antibodies are produced, enabling the body to destroy the bacteria very rapidly and so resist infection. This provides the basis of
immunity. Antibodies are also responsible for the rejection of foreign tissue or organ transplants. See also
monoclonal antibody.
Monoclonal antibody
- A type of pure antibody that can be produced artificially in large quantities and used, for example, to distinguish the major blood groups. Mouse lymphocytes producing the required antibody are fused with mouse cancer cells; the resulting hybrid cells multiply rapidly and all produce the same type of antibody as their parent lymphocytes.
Whilst
all this bodily protection sounds wonderful, the problem with MRSA, is
that there is no defence to it, no answer to its attack.
There
are billions of INSECTS scampering about, as we speak. But dust mites are only one
kind of insect, among billions of other types of insect. It has been
calculated that if all insects could be weighed en masse, their
total weight would be FOUR TIMES greater than the total weight of all
human beings on the planet.
A
Dust Mite is not strictly a parasite.
Parasite
- An organism living in or on another organism of a different species,
called the host, from which it obtains food and protection. Many parasites have complex life cycles, with one or more intermediate hosts,
of different species, supporting them during their development. The study of
parasites - parasitology - is of importance in medicine since many parasites, such as bacteria,
fungi, either cause or transmit disease. Many plants are either partly or completely parasitic.
Blood
cells
There
are a number of different cell types in circulation in the blood stream.
Here's a quick review:
Red
cells
carry oxygen to the cells of the body. They are
essentially bags of hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying molecule. Hemoglobin
binds oxygen to iron atoms, which give the hemoglobin and thus the cells
their distinctive red color.
Polymorphonuclear
cells, or "polys" for short, fight bacterial
infections by engulfing bacteria and digesting them. They form PUS and
are the chief ingredient of an abscess.
Lymphocytes
are the virus killers. There are two types of these:
T-cells
which remember what germs we've been exposed to and how to kill them.
T-cells are the key component of the immune system that is missing in
AIDS.
B-cells
that secrete the actual antibodies that attach to viruses and bacteria
and identify them as things to be destroyed - rather like tagging the
target with a laser so that the smart bomb will home in and blast the
target.
Monocytes
are cells that are related to lymphocytes but have a killing and
cleaning function. They cruise through the tissues of the body cleaning
up debris and killing any bacteria they find. They are often increased
in viral infections - a reassuring finding that your doctor may note on
your child's blood count.
Eosinophils
are cells which are strongly related to allergy and the recognition of
foreign things in the body like parasites.
Basophils
are cells that are also part of the allergy and parasite recognition
system.
Platelets
are the cells that plug leaks in the vascular system, the clotting
cells.
Prion
- An an infectious
protein particle called a Prion or Prion Protein. These prions appear to
have the ability to recruit other normal proteins and induce them to
alter their structure to become more prions, that act as vehicles of
infection. This is quite different from other infectious diseases,
commonly caused by bacteria or viruses. Prions are not a genetic.
ALLERGIES
Whilst we try to report all the facts as accurately
as possible, we will not be made responsible for any mistakes or errors
that maybe inadvertently made.
Dermatophagoides
Pteronyssinus
The Dust Mite
The
great people of the United Kingdom have had it recently pointed out that they
may not be as clean at home as they think. Whilst it is almost a national joke
that the British house-holder buys copious amounts of disinfectant, antiseptics, soap, polish
and smelly air-sprays each year, perhaps some are buying more than others. These Western Europeans probably are in
the top five highest world users of such products; however, it has been
discovered by US 'experts' that the typical UK indoor flooring is five times filthier than the street outside. This must be adjudged seriously when it could be considered that
the litter-strewn streets Britain probably rates also in the top five of the
dirtiest streets in the civilized world.
Remarkably,
apparently around 10 percent of British homes never ever clean their carpets; are we
talking vacuum-cleaning here, or the actual soap cleansing wash? Both, amazingly
24% of British domestic domains do not in point of fact own a vacuum
cleaner, it is no wonder the National Health Service asthmatic waiting lists, and cases of rogue infections,
like MRSA, are so high.
MRSA
Dustmites
can make their home in mattresses, pillows, blankets, quilts, carpets and fabric
covered furniture. The more these items come in contact with people, the more
likely dust mites will be present, and be able to survive.
Most animals, including the human animal shed pounds of skin flakes, dust-mite food, every
year, most homes in the world are actual breeding grounds for a litany of health problems, like
asthma. It
is hard to imagine that we are not all actually ankle deep in debris but
nevertheless we all naturally lose skin, head and pubic hairs by the thousands every year. A combined
household of four normal adult occupants shed over three pounds in weight of
skin flakes annually. That is about half a kilo for our continental viewers,
which sounds more. Over 80% of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is
actually flakes of skin. And
what with all the vaporized sweat, breath and spit that settles on the floor at a rate of pints
each day, and the acres of soil, pollen, food crumbs and other miscellaneous dirt fragments, including
dried dog faeces, brought in from outside by wind or boot, a painful picture is painted of some
rather nasty concoctions
living in our very home.
They
are most prolific in bedrooms as this area has an ambience that the dust
mite loves. A bed can contain many thousands of them and an aging pillow can owe
a fifth of its weight not to filling or feathers but to mites, dead and alive,
but mainly their droppings.
A
recent survey by an American carpet cleaning firm, stated that many carpets in British
living-rooms are an ideal breeding ground for a myriad of organic material. Millions
of dustmites, thousands of fleas, a selection of Bedbugs and all their children,
might live in a carpet that has not seen a vacuum cleaner since it was last in
the carpet store.
Though
this is an international problem, it is not just a British dilemma. This
household filth in any country is a seaside villa to the mighty house
dust-mite. Dust-mites must be in heaven, as it must be the human equivalent of being locked in the
Cadbury chocolate factory. But this is a two edged sword. Every ounce of faecal
mater has come from a pound of human skin, so if we did not have dust mites
surely there would be a lot more skin about.
The
spider-like, house
dust mites are 0.2 - 0.3 mm long and translucent. These microscopic foragers,
which feed on anything organic as well as skin shed by people and pets, are
indeed invisible to the naked eye, but they can be found even in the cleanest of
homes. just a gram of dust may contain up to 5,000 mites, and an ounce of
dust may host 150,000. So it is not hard to believe that you just cannot see
them crawling about.
A dust mite's tough, translucent
cuticle exoskeleton has deep body ridges that can be seen from both the dorsal and ventral
views. They have long hairs, the setae, extending from the outer margins of the body,
with
shorter hairs on the rest of the body. Being related to the Spider, they have eight legs,
but no eyes, no
antennae and no mouthparts in front of their bodies, the head. Female mites lay
between 40 and 80 eggs in a lifetime. A lifetime can be as short as three weeks
or as long as seven weeks.
Being
related to the Spider, they have eight legs, but no eyes, no
antennae and no mouthparts in front of their bodies, the head. Female mites lay
between 40 and 80 eggs in a lifetime. A lifetime can be as short as three weeks
or as long as seven weeks.
The
humble dust-mite lives in carpets, soft toys as well as with us in our proverbial
beds. House dust mites are nearly universal in occurrence - a typical bed
mattress may contain anything from 100,000 to 10 million mites.
A dust-mite,
Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus, produce
more than 200 times their own weight in faeces, 2,000 droppings, in a life time. A
protein not only in the dust mite itself, but mainly in their faecal matter is
the reason, many of us can suffer so much. When this allergen becomes airborne
and is inhaled, it can trigger asthma, hay fever or itchy skin reactions. A
single mite can produce up to 20 microscopic pellets of faecal matter daily.
In
one's travels, as maybe a milkman, delivery-person, sales-person or even just
visiting friends or relations, you will soon discover how comfortable you feel
being sat in someone's home. The first thing you notice is the smell, that
hits you either with pleasure or horror. You know almost immediately how you are
going to feel by staying too long, least of all being offered something to eat
or drink.
Though
on saying that, most houses I have visited and I have been to quite a few,
have not been too bad. They ranged from the operating theater clean, rooms so orderly
that Monica Geller would have been proud, to those that were just
bearable, to those that made you wipe your feet on the way out.
There is no doubt that when dealing with mites and or fleas, not
forgetting bacteria, the new wave vacuum cleaner is our best weapon. Moreover,
since Dyson reinvented the Hoover, to actually show us all the crap we are
living in, 'hoovering' has become more enjoyable and visibly an essential chore.
Soon everyone will have a see-through hoover as even those of the 24% will buy up the
second-hand models from car-boot and garage sales.
So,
after reading this article, if when the friend's cat jumps off the sofa onto the
carpet and there is a small dust cloud you will perhaps think whether this household
is one of those 24% who do not own a cleaner, or the occupier just wants to save
electricity. Actually a good carpet can 'filter' the dust by holding it hidden amongst
the fibers. Some carpets can hold an amazing two pounds in weight of dry crap and
dust, per square foot. An ordinary house may have up to 1000 square feet of
carpets and not only is it a dust store, it is home to a zoo full of little
beings.
Tips
to fight against Dust Mites
No
pesticides are currently approved for control of house dust mites, as you
could absorb them as you sleep.
Replace
feather and down pillows with synthetic fillings.
Enclose
the mattress top and sides with a special synthetic cover. Thoroughly vacuuming
the
mattress especially the base and head of the bed. But try to keep the mattress as dry as possible; dust mites
like it damp, especially with sweat.
Change
and wash pillowcases, sheets, and under blankets regularly. Vacuum the bed base
and around the covered mattress weekly.
Frequently
wash all bedding (blankets, mattress pads and comforters) in hot water (60oC
weekly). Also wash curtains regularly.
Frequent
vacuuming as a dust control measure is more likely to aggravate allergic
asthmatic conditions because old style vacuums are inefficient - dust
collection by conventional vacuums results in a significant increase in air
borne dust concentrations.
Vacuuming is best
accomplished by cleaners that
trap dust in a clear plastic container or even liquid medium such as water rather than a dust bag. Unless
you have one of the new see through type; just keep hoovering and emptying;
hoovering and emptying until all the dust is gone.
IMPORTANT
NOTE
We
said over TEN years ago that a good way of keeping dustmites to a
minimum, was to NOT make your bed, but to throw the
bed-clothes back and open the windows wide, to have a good blow
through. Many laughed, but a recent study has now concurred with this practice.
Domestic
Dustmites, like every creature, have a specific environment that it
has evolved to suit. These mites tend to be most numerous in warmer
homes with high humidity. So keep your bedroom cool or cold; you will
actually sleep better in a cool bedroom, as opposed to a warm centrally-heated
one. The most favorable conditions for growth and development of dust
mites are around 77 degrees Fahrenheit, which is around 25
degrees Celsius. With 70 - 80 percent relative humidity.
House
dust mites absorb and lose moisture easily through their skin, and
like most insects, are very vulnerable to dehydration. You will sweat pints
of water and body oils in a night. You will lose hundreds of
skin-flakes. And if you then protect the mite's environment with a
thick quilt and central heating, the mite can do nothing but multiply
unhindered. Thus producing more allergens that make you suffer.
ALLERGENS
By
throwing the bed-clothes back and opening the window and the bedroom
door, this flow of cool air dries the room out and blows out dust and
other contributors to a bad night's sleep.
**********************************
ALSO:
Always wear a top in bed, that goes from the neck, and covers your
arms. Sleeping with your top naked might be OK, but it will stimulate
a greater sensitivity to allergens.
Also,
clean your teeth as soon as you get up, failing to wash your teeth
will stimulate a greater sensitivity to allergens. Do
NOT drink a tea or coffee, without cleaning your teeth, first.
There will be a multitude of bad bacteria that needs to be cleaned
out; your body has enough to do.
In
theory you can get on top of the job and reduce allergy suffering by a large
percentage. Studies
have shown that in high-altitude Alpine resorts though, both the humidity and the
surrounding air temperatures are too low for the dust mite to survive whereas
warm, humid temperatures increase their metabolic rate, reproduction levels and
chances of survival. And because warm air can hold more moisture than cool air,
when the central heating comes on the mites are happy.
So never have central heating in your bedroom, and keep the room well aired
during the day. (Watch out for burglars.)
If
none of this works, take two aspirin and ring me in the morning.