[Allergy to house dust mites].
The prevalence of atopic disease in Switzerland is 15-20%. About 30% of these patients have perennial symptoms and a substantial proportion are allergic to house-dust mite proteins. If absolute air humidity is lower than 7.0 g water per kg air, house-dust mites will not proliferate. This is why the occurrence of house-dust mites varies between different regions. About half of the patients with allergy to house-dust mites complain of rhinitis, a quarter of asthma and a quarter of asthma and rhinitis. The diagnosis is usually by history, skin prick tests and if necessary provocation. Therapy includes allergen avoidance (reduction of air humidity in dwellings by ventilation, encasing of mattresses and bedding), medication (mainly topical corticosteroids) and specific immunotherapy.
Schnyder
B
B
Klinik für Rheumatologie und klinische Immunologie/Allergologie, Inselspital, Bern.
Schweri
T
T
Thomann
B
B
Pichler
C
C
D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D004391:Dust; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology
D004391:Dust