House dust-mite allergy

Symptoms and causes

What is it?

The mite is a very small spider that likes dark, warm and humid places and that feeds off of people's sloughed-off skin. Some people are allergic to mite excrement.

Diagnosis and treatment

The following measures can help with dust mites:

Ventilate the room sufficiently.
Use a synthetic duvet and spread it open regularly.
Use cotton sheets (no flannel).
Wash the sheets weekly at 60°C.
Vacuum your mattress once in a while, and replace it if it is more than ten years old.
Do not lay carpets on the floor.
Place books and clothes in the closets.
Limit the number of stuffed animals to two. Wash them or place them in the freezer.