Dust allergy What is a dust allergy? Dust mites are extremely tiny bugs that belong to the spider family. They live in house dust and feed on the dead skin cells that people regularly shed. Dust mites can survive in all climates and at most altitudes. They thrive in warm environments, preferring those at 70°F (21°C) and 70 percent relative humidity. When you breathe in the waste products of dust mites, your immune system kicks into high gear, producing antibodies against the normally harmless substances. This overzealous immune response causes the symptoms associated with a dust mite allergy, such as sneezing and runny nose. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), this type of allergy affects about 20 million people in the United States. Aside from allergy symptoms, long-term exposure to dust mite allergens may lead to sinus infections and asthma. Causes of dust mite allergies An allergy is the immune system’s response to an unknown substan...
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