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House dust mites are tiny living creatures that co-habit in human environments. They are about a third of a millimetre in size and can just be seen with the naked eye, although they are indistinguishable from a speck of dust. Their features and movements cannot be detected without magnification. They are one of the most common causes of allergy, resulting from inhaling minute debris from their body or of their droppings. Tests have shown that over 80 per cent of people with allergies show positive skin test results to house dust mites (although only a share of these may have positive clinical symptoms of allergy).
The most common symptoms resulting from house dust mite allergy are nasal symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, rhinitis (hay fever), as well as sinusitis, with related headaches and ear blockages. Breathing symptoms, such as wheezing, dry persistent cough, tightness of breath and asthma, also commonly result. Eczema and dermatitis are frequently caused by house dust mites. Some people sensitive to dust mites report joint pain, swelling of tissues, and muscle aches.
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