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Mites - Species, occurrence and control
- Dust mites are normally harmless to humans, but their secretions can cause allergies.
- The regular washing of bedding at 60 degrees Celsius helps against house dust mites.
- Other mite species, such as hair follicle mites, directly affect health and can cause severe itching.
- Itching mites cause scabies, also called scabies, which are among the notifiable infectious diseases.
contents
- Different types of mites
- House dust mites
- House dust allergy
- Tips for reducing dust mites
- demodex
- mites
- itch mites
- Contagion and treatment of scabies
- General tips for itch mite infestation
- The bark scraps
- Summary
Different types of mites
The best known is the house dust mite, followed by hair follicles, grass mites and itch mites. The house dust mite harms humans by their excretions, whereby the three other mites directly "attack" humans.
Dust mites are one of the best known types of mites and can be found in every household, especially in bed. (Image: crevis / fotolia.com) House dust mites
Actually, the dust mites are absolutely harmless. They do not hurt us. But what can harm us are their excretions. The house dust mite is not visible to the naked eye. With her size of 0.1 to 0.5 millimeters she spreads in our bed without us seeing her.
The excretions, however, are one of the major allergens that can be found in the house. Unfortunately, the mites do not ask before settling in our apartments. They feel comfortable in bed, on mattresses, in bedding, on pillows, carpets and even on stuffed animals. And what's the worst part - even the most meticulous hygiene can not drive away the pests.
In technical terms, they are referred to as so-called dermatophagoides, which means something like "skin eater". They prefer to feed on human dander. But also molds are among their delicacies. Such a small mite can live up to 100 days. Thousands of these animals live in a gram of house dust - which is unimaginable and, if you think about it, can cause disgust and itching.
As already mentioned, mites prefer to live in bed. There it is cuddly warm, the humidity is perfect and we humans also provide them our dander, their favorite food, and per adult about 1.5 grams daily.
House dust allergy
But the very existence of tiny creatures does not affect us humans. However, the small excretions of the mites, more precisely the protein components of the feces, can trigger an allergy. This form of allergy is very common. The dung of the mites dries and becomes dust. The swirls through the air and is inhaled, which can result in sneezing, red eyes and a stuffy nose. An allergic asthma is also possible.
Tips for reducing dust mites
The house dust mites, or their excretions, can be eliminated by washing in a washing machine at 60 ° C. Stuffed animals that can not tolerate this high temperature are frozen for at least a full day.
The temperature in the bedroom should not exceed 18 ° C, as the mites prefer a warm climate. It is important that the apartment remains dry - so better do without humidifiers. The mattress should be replaced regularly, at the latest after eight years. Special mite covers for mattress, comforters and pillows provide protection against the little beasts.
Even if fans or small air conditioning units are set up in the bedroom in the summer, this is counterproductive. This causes more dust to be whirled up.
The sheets, but also the blanket and the pillow, should be washed regularly at a minimum of 60 ° C.
Washing at 60 degrees effectively kills dust mites. Therefore, it is recommended to clean bed linen regularly at this temperature. (Image: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS / fotolia.com) A damp, regular wiping of the apartment is recommended. In the bedroom is best avoided on curtains, bookshelves and decorative materials. These are all additional dust collectors. Also, to absorb the sweat, it is recommended to wear a pajamas at night.
In the trade, mite sprays are available that turn the dander's skin flakes into an inedible meal. Prefer sprays with natural ingredients, such as mahalin (obtained from cold-pressed neem tree oil).
Try to dispense with dust collectors in the apartment such as carpets, carpets and curtains. Stuffed animals are best washed regularly in the washing machine. Since a temperature of 60 ° C is necessary, this is often not possible. Then the darlings spend just a day in the freezer.
demodex
Hair follicle mites can annoy both humans and animals. These mites like to live in the hair follicle. They are transparent and they feed on sebum. Especially the face, especially the nose, but also other parts of the body such as the head, the legs, eyelids, the nose or even the genitals are places where such a hair follicle mite feels good.
These little beasts are common, especially as they get older. They can not live without their host, but usually they do not harm him and most never notice anything about their existence. They are passed on by face contact or over the sheets.
However, if there are many hair follicle mites, for example on the lower or upper lid margins, this can lead to swelling, inflammation and itching. The researchers are not sure whether other skin diseases such as acne or rosacea are favored by the presence of hair follicle mites.
mites
Grass mites (also called autumn mites) live in dry grass, waiting mainly for nayseas or domestic animals - occasionally on humans - and then they bite. More precisely, their larvae, with their biting tools, injure the uppermost skin layer and release their saliva there, which is then responsible for the itching. As a result, small red wheals develop and a strong itching, which can last up to two weeks.
Normally, these wheals are harmless, but they can, especially in children, infected by strong scratching. This is then in the hands of a doctor. In order to quench the itching, dabbing with 70% alcohol helps. Also, anti-pruritus gels are prescribed.
Naturopathy helps applying a pure aloe vera gel, dabbing with colloidal silver or rubbing with coconut oil. If it is just a few stitches, they can be dabbed with a high quality tea tree oil or lavender oil. The homeopathic remedy Rhus toxicodendron helps against the itching.
Of the grass mites are mainly infested dogs, cats and rodents. Normally, the infestation is not bad, but many dogs react, for example, with massive itching, they bite sometimes bloody, the sites are infected and then the dog to the veterinarian. Depending on the form, preparations for itching and inflammation are prescribed. Maybe a special shampoo is recommended. Natural remedies are preparations containing neem oil, coconut oil or black cumin oil.
From May to October you should examine your four-legged friend after each walk. If mites were at work, this is visible through reddish scurf. This can easily be removed with warm water. So that the grass mites do not even attack, veterinarians prescribe chemical means.
Who does not want to use this, resort to natural preparations containing lemon eucalyptus. It is also helpful to rub in the coat with coconut oil. The mites do not like that, but the dogs all the more. This will treat the dogs before the walk. The important parts are the stomach, the area between the toes and behind the ears.
Grass mites sit on blades of grass and lurk on potential hosts, including pets, such as dogs. (Image: annaia / fotolia.com) itch mites
The itch mites cause a skin condition called scabies or scabies. The name Skabies is derived from the word "scabere" = "scratch". The small parasites dig small passages into the skin where they "hide". In adults, especially areas such as the area between the fingers and toes, the armpits and the genital area are affected. In infants and young children, the scalp and the inner surfaces of the hands and feet are added.
The main symptom is the almost unbearable itching. The skin is reddened, flaky and covered with small pustules. Under the magnifying glass, the reddish-brown mite gullies can be discovered. The affected person should definitely visit a doctor. This prescribed anti-mite preparations as creams or ointments and possibly also to an oral therapy.
Contagion and treatment of scabies
Contagion occurs through direct skin contact, such as hugging, sleeping in the same bed, living together, having sexual intercourse, playing games together and sharing towels. Only about two to five weeks after infection, the first symptoms appear. Scaber mites, which are distributed worldwide, need a host, in this case humans, for their survival. Without them, they can still exist for a maximum of two days in bedding, carpets, upholstery and blankets.
If scabies occur in a community facility, such as a kindergarten, then this must be reported immediately to the health department, as it is one of the so-called infectious diseases that fall under the obligation to notify. All persons involved in contact with the patients must be treated.
Scabies is a disease that usually occurs only where many people live together, such as nursing homes, refugee shelters, kindergartens and the like. But even in unclean cheap accommodation is a distribution possible. Those who suffer from a weakened immune system can become infected with it more easily.
By using anti-mite agents, the mites in the skin are killed. However, some of these preparations have strong side effects. For children, pregnant women and nursing women, therefore, care must be taken very carefully. The course of the disease is regularly monitored by the doctor.
Although these pests are successfully eliminated, itching and skin changes may persist for a few weeks. This is called postinfectious eczema. Components of the parasites can persist in the skin and thus cause an inflammatory reaction. This is treated with anti-inflammatory ointments or creams.
Naturopathy has the homeopathic remedies Psorinum and Sulfur ready for the treatment of scabies. Applied externally, a five percent tea tree or lavender oil helps. An old household remedy is dabbing the affected areas with a vinegar-water solution.
Itch mites cause the so-called scabies, also called scabies. In adults, especially the areas between the fingers are affected. (Image: exxxplosion / fotolia.com) General tips for itch mite infestation
In addition to the drug therapy, other measures should be taken to prevent the mites from spreading further. Bed linen, pillows, towels and underwear must be washed regularly at 60 ° C. The things that can not be washed are stuffed into a plastic bag for at least four days. Upholstery and carpets are thoroughly vacuumed daily.
As a rule, people treated with an anti-mite remedy are no longer contagious eight to twelve hours later. Appropriate, properly performed therapy kills the itch mites. Only with a weakened immune system complicated courses are possible.
The bark scraps
The bark scabies (Scabis norvegica) is a special form of scabies, in which the mostly immunocompromised persons suffer from a very massive mite infestation. The risk of infection increases with the number of mites. Thus, every single skin dandruff that loses a person suffering from bark scars can be afflicted with several thousand mites. These sufferers are isolated and the caregivers must wear protective clothing because the bark stains are highly contagious.
Summary
For recurrent allergic reactions, for infected skin after mite bites and especially for suspected scabies disease a doctor should be consulted. You may need medication. Especially with the scabies must be acted quickly, all possibly Mit affected must be mitbehandelt to curb the contagion as soon as possible. (Sw)