As the weather turns colder, many families begin to replace their sheets and bedding. The bedding that has been stored for the spring and summer brings us not only warmth and comfort during the winter months, but actually brings with it some nasty little creatures, such as dust mites. Those of you who suffer from allergies are no strangers to this little creature. Allergies caused by dust mites can cause sleepless nights, asthma, sneezing all night long, large pimples, and snotty noses and tears, to name a few. Where are dust mites found? Dust mites are one of the most closely related species of mites in the family of mites. They live in almost every corner of our rooms, hiding in pillows, bedding, sofas and clothing, and can even breed in flour mills, cotton mills and food warehouses. Dander from our bodies, flour from food, and even powdery substances such as fungi can become their food. Dust mites live in an environment similar to that of human beings and are incredibly prolific. Every three weeks as a breeding cycle, each time can lay 25 to 50 eggs. Generally speaking, the breeding season of dust mites peaks in the summer, so if you wear fall and winter clothes that have been worn over the summer without washing and drying them, you are afraid that the number of dust mites on your body may be in the tens of thousands. How can dust mites cause human allergies? Dust mites are important allergens for human allergies. Whether it is the dead body, secretions or excretions of dust mites, they can cause strong allergic reactions in allergy sufferers. The most common allergic reactions include: dust mite asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Eighty percent of these allergic reactions are related to dust mites. The mechanism by which dust mites cause allergies in humans is not complicated: after the allergen comes into contact with the human body, it is like dropping a firecracker in an oil depot. The allergen is the body, secretion or excretion of the dust mite, as mentioned earlier, and the reservoir is the immune system. The immune system is induced by allergens to produce antibodies, so that the body’s cells produce a series of biochemical reactions, resulting in capillary dilatation, increased vascular permeability, increased secretion of glands, the formation of tissue edema. The specific manifestations are typical symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, difficulty in breathing and even anaphylactic shock. What can be done? It is very difficult to cure dust mite allergy and may take up to 1 to 2 years of injections for desensitization. Therefore, for patients with less severe allergy, the recommended method is to reduce the contact with dust mites, or dust mite carcasses, excreta, etc. in daily life. 1. What should be done for prevention? You should pay attention to the cleanliness of the environment, open windows more often, and keep the indoor air circulating and dry. In the fall and winter, bedding that has been stored for several months is a haven for dust mites. When you take it out and use it again, you should wash and dry the bedding and clothes before using it. Dust mite allergy sufferers are advised not to cover their beds with blankets, and not to place tapestries on the walls, which can easily accumulate dust. 2. What to do after allergy? After an allergic reaction, the patient should consult a doctor in a timely manner, under the guidance of the doctor can take oral loratadine and other anti-allergy drugs, asthma patients can also use anti-asthma sprays to alleviate the symptoms.