How To Check For Bed Bugs

Many people are allergic to bed mites, but just what are bed mites? Bed mites, also known as dust mites,  are microscopic organism which feed off of the dead skin of humans and animals. Bed mites are not to be confused with bed bugs. Bed bugs feed off of blood. Bed mites only feed off of dead skin. Bed bites do not bite people, but they can cause severe allergies.

Bed mites are actually very common, and a bed which has been in your home for a few years can actually hold up to one million bed mites in it. Because they are microscopic, dust mites cannot be seen with the naked eye. Bed mites are very common and can live on any kind of material including beds, upholstered furniture, pillows, and curtains.

Although bed mites can live anywhere, they are usually quite harmless. There are, however, many people who are allergic to dust mites and they can get severe allergy symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, and hay fever symptoms. If you are allergic to bed mites, it would be best to try to protect your home from any bed mites.

One way to protect your home is to keep it clean. Dust regularly and open the windows to let fresh cool air in. Wash your bed linens on a regular basis, as well. Vacuuming your bed can help get rid of bed mites, however, steam cleaning your mattresses works much better. Keeping your mattress covered with a plastic protective mattress cover will also assist in making sure your bed is free of bed mites.

You may not be aware that you have bed mites, however, allergy symptoms could clue you in. Some people have no reaction to bed mites at all, while others are severely allergic to bed mites. Symptoms of allergies include, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and headaches.

You can test for allergy symptoms at your doctor’s office. Doctors can perform a simple skin prick test to check for allergies. You can also check for bed mites in your home by purchasing a dust mite sampling kit. If you find bed mites on your mattress, make sure to clean all of the mattresses in your home. If you have a severe allergic reaction to bed mites, you may want to purchase an air purifier and steam clean any carpets and furniture with upholstery. Bed mites could be lurking in your home, so it is important to know what are bed mites and how to get rid of them.  

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Bed mites or dust mites are microscopic bugs that are related to spiders and ticks. Thanks to their translucent bodies, these creatures are invisible to the naked eye, making it impossible for one to try to crush them. Dust mites have no eyes or antennae, they have eight legs, and a mouth-like appendage. There are several genuses of mites but the two most common are Dermatophagoides farinae (American house dust mite) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (European house dust mite). Bed mites and bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) belong to the same phylum called Arthropoda but differ in class as bed mites belong to the Arachnida while bed bugs belong to the Insecta class. Another difference is that while bed bugs are parasites that feed on the blood of humans, bed mites feed on dead skin cells called dander that are normally shed by humans, in fact, those that seem to be dust particles we see in sunbeams are actually dead skin cells. Instead of being called parasites, dust mites are called scavengers as they feed on dead matter.

Normally, a house is filled with millions of bed mites, particularly the bed since it is where most of the dander are shed. Bed mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it. A dust mite cannot cause any harm to humans, its excrement, however, may trigger allergic reactions to people who are highly sensitive to allergens like those with Asthma.

On average, a single bed mite produces approximately 20 waste droppings each and every day. Protein in the guts of these creatures combined with feces typically cause allergic reactions in humans. When these are inhaled by a susceptible person, this triggers the body’s immune system to release antibodies that can lead to overdrive. In an effort to protect the body from a suspected harmful agent, it inadvertently causes reactions that harm the body. Symptoms of allergy to dust mites that may manifest in a susceptible individual include itchiness, sneezing, inflamed or infected eczema, watering or reddening eyes, and sneezing repeatedly and frequently. Upon waking up, a person may be sneezing 10 or more times, may have a runny nose, and clogging in the lungs.

Cleanliness is always the best prevention and management to any infestation. Make sure that each and every member of your household participates in eradicating these scavengers. Bed mites are really troublesome and if you cannot handle the situation, you can always seek professional help.

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It is common to mistake bed mites for bed bugs. But these two are far different from one another. Bed bugs bite you in the middle of the night while bed mites cause allergic reactions. These allergic reactions are classified to be like waking up with a bad story of colds. Bed bugs are also bigger than bed mites and easily identified by a naked eye.

Bed mites or frequently called as “dust mites” feed on dead skin cells and oils from our body. When they defecate, their fecal droppings are the ones causing the allergy. An allergic reaction will now follow aside from episodes of red marks from the skin. These rashes will cause itchiness that will eventually develop dry and scaly scabs. It is important not to scratch the area too much or it may result to wounds and secondary infection. A runny nose is expected, same is true with teary eyes, feelings of drowsiness, and a headache. bed mites also exacerbate underlying allergic conditions.  They do cause allergic reactions, varying the degree from one person to another. Same with bed bugs, they thrive under warm linens, loving the fact that it is dark and moist. These hideouts keep them healthy and free form being noticed. They are about one fourth of a millimeter, that is why, they are not easily spotted or seen roaming under your mattresses.

How to prevent bed mites

• Change your sheets or linens in a regular basis.

• Check other pieces of furniture inside the house for they may contain dust mites.

• Vacuum the area most suggestive of dust mites and remove unwanted clutter.

• A vinegar spray is also helpful in reducing the amount of dust mites in your room. Fill a container with water and vinegar, with vinegar four times as much as water. Spray it after soaking your mattress under the sunlight and it will do wonders in eradicating dust mites. As the solution dries, the air will absorb the vinegar smell, leaving it free from being malodorous.

• A peeling poster and a chipping wallpaper or paint is also potable areas for growth.

• Check also for any cracks in your walls with dust particles in them. This may signify future attacks of dust mites.

Bed mites are controllable and are manageable. Keeping up with regular inspection and thorough examination of your surroundings will definitely prevent their occurrence. Bed mites infestation may seem to be a minor problem as of now, but it will definitely result to unwanted health issues if left unmanaged.

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Bed mites are also known as “dust mites” that feed on dead skin cells and oils of a human body. The substances that cause the allergy are its fecal droppings when bed mites defecate. The rashes are described as very itchy which progresses to dry and scaly scabs if left unmanaged. Do not scratch the affected areas as to this may lead to lesions and secondary infection. Other expected manifestations of an allergic reaction are runny nose, teary eyes, drowsiness, and headache. If you happen to have an existing allergy, bed mites may aggravate your condition; however, its effect differs from one person to another. Like bed bugs, bed mites love dark, warm, and moist areas. This kind of environment is very conducive for their growth and makes it hard to notice them. Their size is about one fourth of a millimeter that is why it is so difficult to spot them under the mattresses. 

Prevention is also same as preventing bed bugs. Change your linens weekly. Launder them in hot temperatures and hang them under the bright sunlight. You may also want to check other pieces of furniture inside the house for they may contain dust mites. They are found absolutely anywhere, from your sleeping area to your favorite couch.

Carpets and blankets too are common places for them to thrive. They may also be seen hanging out under your bed, waiting for skin follicles and hair to drop, feasting these very possibilities. A dark area filled with grimy stuff can eventually give way to its reproductive skills. Therefore, dusty environments and dirty settings further aggravate the problem. These are suitable grounds for their development and nourishment. Therefore, vacuum the area most suggestive of dust mites and remove unwanted clutter.

A vinegar spray is also helpful in reducing the amount of dust mites in your room. Fill a container with water and vinegar, with vinegar four times as much as water. Spray it after soaking your mattress under the sunlight and it will do wonders in eradicating dust mites. As the solution dries, the air will absorb the vinegar smell, leaving it free from being malodorous.

A peeling poster and a chipping wallpaper or paint is also potable areas for the growth of these scavengers. Check also for any cracks in your walls or dark corners with dust particles in them. This may signify future attacks of bed mites.

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Bed mites are also called dust mites which are microscopic organisms related to spiders and ticks. They have translucent bodies making them invisible to the naked eye so it is impossible for us to crush them. bed mites are called scavengers instead of parasites since they feed on dead skin cells. Typically, a house is occupied by millions of bed mites especially the beds where most of the dead skin cells are shed. These scavengers prefer warm and damp areas like the insides of mattresses. Dust mites do not cause any harm to humans but they can trigger allergic reactions to individuals with asthma or other allergen related conditions.

Everyday, a single bed mite produces an average of 20 waste droppings. What causes allergic reactions to humans is the combination of these creatures’ protein in the guts and feces. If inhaled, this may trigger the body’s immune system to produce antibodies to ward them off; however, this defense mechanism of the body also damages the body itself. Dust mite allergies symptoms include itchiness, sneezing, swollen or infected eczema, watery or reddening eyes, and sneezing repeatedly and frequently. Upon waking up, the allergic individual may be sneezing 10 or more times, and may have runny or clogged nose.

The best prevention and management to any insect infestation is cleanliness. Eradicating these scavengers is not done by an individual alone but instead, it is the participation and cooperation of all the family members. You may pay professionals to the job for you but it may be costly.

How to manage bed mites

Eradicating the house of these creatures is virtually impossible. The risk however can be reduced by the following.

• Frequent cleaning

• Keeping an indoor relative humidity low since bed mites thrive on warm, moist environments.

• Air-conditioned homes are found to have lower number of bed mites than those that are not.

• The use of anti-allergen products that are available in the market are also valuable to those in need of them. Examples of these are the so-called allergen barrier pillow case since the primary camp for bed mites is the one with the closest proximity to your nose.

• High efficiency air filters and a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) vacuum cleaner are yet other innovations that may be costly but can save one’s life. These innovations are just secondary measures in reducing risks because these will be ineffective if the environment remains dirty and dusty which are favorable to bed mites.

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