Consider dust mites. Oprah Winfrey made us all recoil in horror when she told us how many of these little critters are in our homes. Now aware that our pillows, throws and who knows what else were infested with dust mites, many of us feared for our health and became obsessed with eradicating the pests. But what’s the real truth for you and your family? Let’s investigate.

Some Facts

We all live with dust mites – everywhere. But it’s not actually the mites that cause problems. It’s the concentration of allergens that are a by-product of waste and decay. The National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing, an NIEHS study, discovered that 84.2 percent of U.S. homes had detectable dust mite allergen in their beds.

Allergic Reactions

While it’s gross to think of mites in our beds, it’s not a problem for most of us because only some people are allergic to dust mites. According to research from the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, just over one-quarter (27.5 percent) of Americans are allergic enough to dust mites to experience skin sensitivity.

Some people are kind-of allergic (like me). Symptoms of a mild allergy can include the occasional runny nose, watery eyes, a skin rash or sneezing. People with chronic or severe allergies can experience persistent wheezing, sneezing, congestion and facial pressure.

These symptoms could be signs of a cold or an allergy to something besides dust mites, which is why it can be hard to know what’s causing the reactions without a visit to the doctor.

The Asthma Connection

For some people, dust mite allergens cause severe symptoms. The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology estimates that as many as 90 percent of people with allergic asthma are sensitive to dust mites, and at least 45 percent of young people with asthma are allergic to dust mites.

Almost half (46.2 percent) of American households participating in the national survey had levels that exceed 2 microgram dust mite allergen per gram dust. “That’s a level that has previously been associated with increased risk of sensitization or allergy,” explains Darryl Zeldin, M.D., head of the Molecular and Cellular Biology & Environmental Cardiopulmonary Disease Groups at NIEHS in Research Triangle Park. “Twenty-four-point-two percent had levels that exceeded 10 microgram per gram dust, a level that has been previously associated with increased risk of asthma.

Diagnosis Dust Mite

How can you find out if you’re allergic? “Physicians can determine if a person is allergic by doing skin tests with the allergen or by doing blood tests that measure IgE antibodies to the specific allergen,” Zeldin notes.

In a typical skin test, doctors put various highly concentrated forms of common allergens – including dust mites – on your skin (usually your back) and wait a few minutes to see if any reactions occur. This method allows your physician to expose you to many allergens in order to find the one or ones that you’re sensitive to.

An IgE blood test is much more specific. The doctor takes a blood sample and looks for immunoglobulin E, a protein involved with allergic reactions found in small amounts in our blood. It’s most often used to check for a specific allergen or group of allergens.

Your doctor will decide which test is indicated based on your family medical history. Depending on the results, treatment may include over-the-counter medications, pen-like injectors or other more potent medication.

Reduced Exposure

You’re never going to be able to live a dust-mite-free life, but you can significantly lower your exposure by:

• Keep relative humidity low (under 55 percent) because dryness kills germs.
• Use a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum to keep allergens from releasing back into the air. Change the bags at least once a month.
• Switch out air filters according to manufacturers recommendations.
• Vacuum mattresses, carpets, upholstered furniture and window treatments at a very high setting.
• Toss stuffed animals, throw pillows and small rugs into the dryer on high heat regularly.
• Cover bed pillows, mattresses and box springs with impervious covers to keep dust mites from coming through.
• Unclutter rooms with most use (bedrooms, family rooms), including extra pillows and bed covers, out-of-season clothing, throw rugs, stuffed animals – and anything that gets (and stays) dusty.

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Orange County native Margot Carmichael Lester also writes for the Los Angeles Business Journal, Monster.com and Go magazine. She has been enjoying the Museum for more than 40 years.