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Dust Mites Can Lead To Allergies, Trigger Asthma

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- If you're sneezy and congested with itchy, watery eyes, something you're sleeping with could be responsible.

While dust mites are too tiny to see, they can cause some big problems.

Dust mites can colonize mattresses and pillows; and unlike bed bugs, mites can lead to allergies, even trigger asthma.

Some brave people recently allowed KDKA's David Highfield into their homes to test for dust mites.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says we all have them on some level. The average bed is said to have two million.

It was an agonizing mystery for Jennifer Fitch from Penn Hills until she was finally tested and learned she was allergic to dust mites.

"I was like 'Oh my goodness, this is what's causing my issues and stuff,' and like all these years, I thought what's wrong with me," said Fitch.

Dust mites live in carpets, mattresses and pillows. They're too small to see with the naked eye.

They're spider-like creatures that feed on the dead skin cells we all shed. The older your bedding is, the more you're likely to have.

It's not the mites people are allergic to, but their droppings.

KDKA's David Highfield went to Robb Montgomery's house in McCandless as well as two other homes in our area armed with at-home dust mite test kits purchased online.

Using a special collection device on the end of a vacuum, they sampled mattresses, pillows, comforters, carpeting by baseboards and under beds - numerous spots in each home.

As part of the test kit, there are three stripes. The first one shows you the lowest level of dust mite allergens, then there's a medium strip and the darkest strip shows the highest level.

After you take all the necessary steps, you see which stripe matches your test results. But it doesn't work quite that fast. It takes 10 minutes.

"Dust mites are really a big deal," says Dr. Andrej Petrov, of the UPMC Allergy Immunology Clinic. "They're one of the most common allergens that we're facing."

Dr. Petrov says the mites can make patients miserable.

"Many times they'll lose their sense of smell from severe stuffy nose," he said.

But he says there are things people can do to make things better.

The mites like humidity. So, Dr. Petrov tells people who are allergic not to use humidifiers. He says hardwood floors, not carpeting, are best in the bedroom.

No stuffed animals either. He also says to wash sheets in hot water weekly, and to get covers for your pillows and your mattress that zip closed.

Finally, you can also do what Fitch chose - a series of shots, which she says has made a huge difference.

"Ever since they've been doing them, it's like a whole new life," she said.

Now, it's time for the test results. We took six samples in all, two from each home.

Despite one sample full of dust and one with a lot of dog fur, most of the samples found no detectable dust mite allergen at all. However, two others did show a light pink stripe - most closely matching the lowest level of allergen, but still, at that amount, no action is needed.

And as for Montgomery's house, dust mites are not a problem.

If you're allergic, using a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter may also help.

One study even found putting stuffed animals in the freezer before washing them can cut down on dust mites.

But experts say there's really no reason to be concerned unless you're actually having allergy issues.

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Dust Mite Facts
Dust Mite Test Kits
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