Knowing Dust Mite Allergies Symptoms and Causes

Dust mite allergies are fairly common, mainly because there is dust everywhere. It is very difficult to avoid coming into contact with dust. In most cases dust mite allergy symptoms are fairly mild, usually just a runny nose. However in a very few cases a much more serious reaction can occur. Since the symptoms of a dust mite allergy are basically the same as any other allergy it can be very difficult to determine if you are allergic to dust. Especially since it is so hard to tell when you have been exposed.

The most common dust mite allergy symptom is itchy eyes and a runny nose. This is usually caused by the dust getting up into the nasal passage and causing irritation. A dust mite allergy is caused by the dead mites that are floating around. This is what dust is, it is constantly floating around and there is a good chance that you will inhale some. The proteins in the dust mites are viewed by our bodies as a threat and they release histamine to fight it off. If too much histamine is released we will end up having an allergic reaction. The most common of these is a runny nose and itchy eyes.

The other most common allergy symptom is eczema. This would be a red, very itchy rash. There is a good chance that it will be accompanied by flaking or oozing of the skin. Eczema isn't actually caused by the dust mites, it is a skin condition that usually affects people as children and lasts the remainder of their lives. The outbreaks come and go but they can be triggered in a number of ways, one of which is an allergic reaction.

One of the more serious dust mite allergy symptoms which you might suffer from is asthma. Asthma is an allergic reaction that causes your airway to become inflamed. This makes it difficult to breathe and in some cases it can completely block your airway and make it impossible to breathe. You often hear of people having asthma as if it were an illness. It isn't, it's an allergic reaction. Some people are more prone to attacks than others but anybody can have an asthma attack if they are exposed to an allergen. If you are prone to asthma attacks your doctor will likely have you carry around medication in case you have an attack.

The most serious allergy symptom would be anaphylaxis. This is fairly rare, especially for dust mite allergies but it could happen. Anaphylaxis occurs because the histamine that your body releases causes your blood vessels to dilate. This causes swelling, which can also cause difficulty breathing. There will also likely be a drop in your blood pressure. Anaphylaxis is a serious emergency that will require you to seek medical help immediately. If you are prone to anaphylaxis your doctor will likely have you carry an epinephrine pen around with you so you can inject yourself if you have a reaction.