If you wake up in the morning with red, watery eyes and a runny nose, the first thing you will probably think of is a banal cold, triggered by a cold virus. If there is also a cough and hoarseness, one expects the “cold” to be over in a few days.
But if you are not symptom-free after two to three weeks, it is time to think about a house dust allergy. Especially on those days when we switch the heating back on for the first time in the evening, the concentration of house dust in the air increases sharply.
The argument: “I’ve never had that before” does not work, because anyone can develop an allergy at any time and at any age. In particular, the indication that the symptoms subside when staying outdoors suggests a house dust allergy. It is not the dust itself to which we can react allergically, but the smallest mites, the excretions of which cause irritation of the mucous membranes. These mites, which can only be seen under a microscope, colonize all upholstered furniture, mattresses, carpets and curtains in our domestic environment.
The presence of mites at home has nothing to do with poor hygiene. The mites are an inevitable part of house dust. Those with weak nerves should avoid looking at microscopic images of mites. The mites are completely harmless to most people. The symptoms described only occur in individuals in whom the immune system defends itself against the microbes.
So if the runny nose does not respond to aspirin, a specialist should be consulted. The diagnosis can be confirmed quickly and reliably by means of an allergy test on the skin or blood.
In the case of mild complaints, an attempt can be made to alleviate the allergy by removing the dust catcher in the apartment. Often this is not enough, however, and at the latest when the bronchial tubes react, a so-called desensitization treatment must be carried out to prevent an impending asthma.
In simplified terms, this treatment can also be described as a vaccination treatment. A small amount of vaccine serum is injected under the skin once a week for the first four weeks and then once a month. In this way, the body gently gets used to the mites and no longer reacts allergically to them.
The chances of success of this treatment are 80% and one should not hesitate too long before introducing it, otherwise the chances of success decrease. Desensitization treatment is a safe and established therapy in the hands of a specialist and is usually covered by health insurance companies.
Yours Dr. Jens D. Löhnert
Specialist in dermatology, allergology and venereology
Aesthetic dermatology
