The same medication may not cause any reaction to a person, yet may cause unforeseen allergic reactions to another person.
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A dust mite allergy refers to an allergic reaction to dust-mite wastes. The waste of dust mites and our bodies can trigger allergic reactions. While dust mites generally die when either the temperature is too high or humidity is low, they will always leave their wastes behind, which can cause this type of allergic reaction.
Nearly 80% of homes in Singapore have dust mite allergens in at least one bed.
Even though there are a few similarities between a dust mite allergy and the common flu, you can easily differentiate between the two.
If you find yourself in a dusty environment and you immediately begin to experience any of the following symptoms, chances are you are having an allergy reaction:
If you are asthmatic, you might experience additional symptoms, including:
Conversely, flu symptoms are slightly different and generally involve the following:
A notable difference, however, is that wherein flu symptoms will remain throughout your illness, dust mite allergy symptoms will appear and disappear based on your exposure.
There are a few factors that can exacerbate your risk of suffering a dust mite allergy, including:
Just like any other type of allergy, dust mite allergy treatment is usually centered around symptom management.
Depending on the severity and your symptoms and your needs, your doctor might recommend a combination of treatments:
| Treatment | How it works | Side effects |
|---|---|---|
| Decongestants | Decongestants work by relieving the nasal and sinus congestion that is often associated with allergies. However, this type of treatment is not ideal for everyone. If you suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, or even glaucoma, then you should not consider this particular treatment. | Insomnia, irritability, headaches |
| Corticosteroids | Corticosteroids work by minimizing inflammation triggered by allergies. | Nosebleeds, sore throats, nasal irritation, itchiness, redness, and oral yeast infections. Prolonged use of corticosteroids can result in muscle weakness, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, cataracts, glaucoma, osteoporosis, abnormal hormonal levels and skin discoloration. |
| Antihistamines | Antihistamines refer to the chemicals that your immune system produces while responding to an allergen. These medications work by inhibiting the production of histamine, helping alleviate allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, swelling, and hives. | Drowsiness. |
| Leukotriene inhibitors | Leukotriene inhibitors work to block the release of leukotrienes, chemicals that your body releases that cause allergy symptoms. Leukotriene inhibitors will alleviate allergy symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing and runny nose. | Anxiety and lack of sleep. |
There is no cure for dust mite allergy, and the same applies to other types of allergies as well. However, it’s important to note that the above treatment options are highly effective at treating your dust mite allergies. The ultimate way to cure your allergies is to reduce your exposure to your allergens.
Reducing your exposure to dust mites is the best way to ensure you do not experience dust mite allergy symptoms. Although it’s technically impossible to entirely eliminate dust mites in your home, there are a few things you can do to minimise them:
The same medication may not cause any reaction to a person, yet may cause unforeseen allergic reactions to another person.
The concept of early avoidance as prevention of future allergy has been challenged over recent years.
Allergy Immunotherapy modifies a person’s body immune response towards allergens, hence easing allergy symptoms.
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis are important. This can be life-saving.
Checking the skin or nail lesion with wood lamp involves shining a hand-held wood lamp device on the area of concern by your physician.
Cryotherapy or colloquially known as ‘cold therapy’ is a procedure that uses liquid nitrogen to deliver freezing cold temperature locally to destroy and remove abnormal skin lesion.
Electrocautery is a bedside procedure where your doctor will use an ‘electric pen’ to deliver high frequency electric current onto the skin to generate heat in order to stop bleeding or remove abnormal skin cells
A steroid injection is simple bedside procedure where your doctor will inject minute amount of steroid onto the skin.
Skin cancer screening is usually performed by your physician using a dermatoscope. Dermatoscope is a medical magnifying glass that allows your physician to visualize the size and shape of the mole that you are concerned of.
Fungal scrape and bacterial culture tests allow physician to confirm or debunk fungal/bacterial diagnosis of skin condition
Skin tags are benign. They are also known as acrochordons medically. They are small, soft overgrowth of the skin commonly located among the face, eyelids neck, armpit, groin, breasts and buttock folds.
An excision biopsy is a bedside procedure where your doctor uses a surgical blade to remove the entire skin lesion under the use of local anaesthesia.
A shave biopsy a bedside procedure where your doctor uses a surgical superficial shaving blade to remove the skin lesion under the use of local anaesthesia.
A skin biopsy, or punch biopsy, is a bedside surgical procedure where your physician will use a small knife ‘puncher’ to obtain a small skin sample under local anaesthesia.
Herpes zoster, commonly referred to as shingles, is a painful blistering rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus— the same virus that causes chickenpox.
Seborrheic Dermatitis is a common chronic inflammatory condition of the skin. It is categorized as a type of chronic eczema, affecting the body area that has more sebaceous glands. characterized by red, greasy scaly patches.
Living in a hot humid climate of Singapore, fungal infection of the skin is common. The fungus thrives and favors body areas that are moist and warm such as the armpit, breast folds, groin, buttocks, feet, toes or even nails.
Eczema is a common inflammation condition of the skin. Although eczema can occur any time in one’s life, it typically starts presenting when one is a child.
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. It is a common skin disease that can affect 1 in 50 people.
Nearly 20% of people will get hives at some point in their lifetime. While they may not be life-threatening, hives can potentially cause both physical and emotional issues, particularly if they occur frequently.