Description and photo of linen mites

The linen tick has an official name - lat. Dermatophagoides. People call him still dusty, feather, clothes, clothing, bedcarpet. A microscopic creature lives everywhere, in a large concentration is present in dirty things, bedding, pillows, mattresses, as well as on dusty furniture. A single tick does not pose a danger to humans, but numerous colonies lead to health problems.

What does a parasite look like

It is impossible to see the linen mite with the naked eye. The size of an adult does not exceed 0.5 mm. The body structure does not differ from representatives of other species of arachnids - cephalothorax, abdomen, 8 limbs. Such a tick is present in every home. The more dust, the higher the number of parasites.

Arachnid lives for 80 days, during which time it lays about 150 eggs. The size of the nymphs is about 0.1 mm. Choose places with high humidity, a large amount of food, temperature in the range of 22-26 degrees Celsius. A photo of linen mites is presented below.

Habitat

Dust mites belong to synanthropic creatures, live in a person’s house. Detect the presence of parasites in the room by dust. Colonies are formed from 100 to 10,000 individuals per 1 g of dust. The mites feed on flakes of dead skin, particles of feathers, so they often accumulate on:

• pillows;
• featherbeds;
• mattresses;
• blankets;
• bedspreads;
• clothes;
• curtains;
• bedding;
• toys;
• upholstered furniture.

And also on shelves, in cabinets, where wet cleaning is rarely carried out, on floors. Penetrate into the room through open windows with a stream of dusty air through things.

Danger to humans

Hang mites do not bite. The expression "linen mite bite" is absolutely wrong. Arachnids feed on the dead cells of the epidermis, do not show interest in blood, therefore they do not linger on the human body. Do not have harmful effects of their vital products. Excrement that contains a substance related to allergens is dangerous.

With a concentration of linen mites up to 500 individuals per 1 g of dust, there is no danger to humans. An increased number of parasites in the house threatens development allergic reaction even those who have not previously suffered from allergies. The most dangerous situation is for young children, people with weakened, pathological immunity.

On a note!

An allergy to a linen tick appears temporarily or permanently. There is an improvement in well-being when staying outside the home. Medicines do not give a lasting result. Rashes on the skin turn into atopic dermatitis, asthma develops. The state of health improves or full recovery occurs with a decrease in the amount of dust in the house.

Symptoms of a linen mite

It is possible to suspect the presence of a large number of parasites due to poor health, reduced ability to work, chronic fatigue, headache. But vivid symptoms in a person manifest in the form of an allergy:

• skin rashes;
• itching for no apparent reason;
• rhinitis;
• dry cough;
• frequent sneezing
• conjunctivitis, souring of the eyes;
• asthma attacks
• atopic dermatitis;
• acariases.

Linen mites can independently provoke an allergy to dust or exacerbate the condition with the pathological effect of other allergens. The risk of complications with existing atopic dermatitis, asthma is increased.

On a note!

Often dust parasites cause infection with other types of mites - demodexes. The disease develops in the process. demodicosis, which is very difficult to get rid of. It is manifested by damage to the skin of the face with acne.

How to get rid of a linen tick

At home, it is impossible to completely destroy the entire colony of parasites. The main efforts are directed at reducing the number of pests to an acceptable standard.

• For the full reproduction of arachnids, a moisture content of 55% is required. It is recommended to reduce this indicator in the room with the help of dehumidifiers.
• Replace feather pillows with silicone, feather-beds with an orthopedic mattress. Periodically take out the blankets outside in sunny weather or frost. Handle non-removable items with special tools.
• Reduce the number of soft toys left to send to the laundry every week.
• Get rid of unnecessary things.
• Bedding is washed every week, naturally dried on the street, balcony, in a well-ventilated area. Iron with steam.
• Do not put dirty things in closets. Clothing that is stored for a long time is recommended to be placed in plastic bags.
• Ventilate the room twice a day for 10-15 minutes. However, if the air is dusty, it is better to use a cleaner, do not open the windows.
• During cleaning, wipe the furniture, the floor with a solution against linen mites. At home, it is prepared from kitchen salt - on a bucket of water 5 tbsp. spoons. It is allowed to spray toys, curtains, carpets, upholstered furniture.
• Do not use a conventional vacuum cleaner, from which dust is raised by a column. It is recommended to use a special household appliance with an aquafilter.

There are special tools for dust and linen mite control in the form of sprays, aerosols, concentrates for adding to the washing machine. They contain an insecticidal substance. The drugs are applied to any surface in the house, left to dry. Duration of protection from several days to 7 months. Price from 150 rub. up to 3000 rub. Effective remedies - Acaritox, Oreck allergen control carpet cleaner, Allergoff, Easy air, Acaril allersearch, Milbiol.

Treatment

Therapy is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of allergies, reducing the number of allergens. Subject to hygiene requirements, the condition normalizes within a week. To accelerate the effect, restore the skin, antihistamines, anti-allergic drugs are used. Often prescribed Advantan, Betamethasone, Elokom, Dermoveyt. Treatment is carried out after consultation with a specialist.

On a note!

Bites on the skin in the form of inflamed spots are a consequence of other parasites. At home, they can parasitize linen lice, bed bugs, scabies mite, etc. It is very important to visit a dermatologist before starting treatment.