House dust mite allergy

No. Bedding labeled with the NOMITE label has a special, tightly woven but still breathable ticking, in which down and feathers are filled. This exceptional fabric for pillows and blankets form a mechanical and thus natural barrier for house dust mites. Only these pillows and duvets are allowed to be labeled with the “NOMITE” label.

 

For allergy sufferers the best strategy to prevent the unpleasant allergy symptoms is to avoid the substances which trigger the allergy.

 

The good news first: House-dust-mite allergy patients must not do without down- and feather-filled bedding anymore. The Medical Association of German Allergologists (Ärzteverband Deutscher Allergologen e. V.) recommends to use natural filling materials, such as down and feathers.
 

It is still a widespread misconception that down- and feather-filled bedding articles are not suitable for house-dust-mite allergy sufferers.

Bed-feathers are not the trigger of a house-dust-mite allergy. Allergy sufferers react to the excrements of the house-dust-mite, not to the feathers. And neither are the feathers a food source for the mites. In order to avoid house-dust-mite allergies it is even recommended to sleep in down- and feather-filled bedding articles.

 

No, they are not. House-dust-mites are natural, harmless cohabitants, which reside in all parts of human dwellings. Only areas located at altitudes of more than 5,000 ft. above sea level, deserts or arctic regions are almost free of house-dust-mites, as the living conditions in these zones are unfit for the mites.

 

Yet, it is necessary to keep the number of mites as small as possible and to avoid contact with the mite faeces for the most part, if possible.
 

It is not the mite itself which causes the allergy symptoms, but its excrement instead.

 

Mites are tiny, spider-like animals, which are not visible to the naked eye. They can be found all over the world; only areas which are situated more than 5,000 ft. above sea level are virtually mite-free. Thus, house-dust-mites are not an indicator of a lack of cleanliness!

 

Mites thrive at constant temperatures of about 25 ^oC (77 ^oF) and at a relative humidity of around 70 percent.

An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to certain substances, which are called exogenous, because they come from outside the body. These substances, the allergens, are, for example animal hair, pollen, mould fungi or the excrement of the house-dust-mite.

 

Normally, the immune system protects the human body from pathogens such as viruses or bacteria.

In fact, the British researcher Stephen Pretlove, Kingston University in London stated: If you make your bed every morning, you will create an excellent habitat for house-dust-mites. Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die. Thus, he emphasises the importance of heat and moisture for mites to survive.

However, it was pointed out that blankets which are spread over the bed and stuck between the mattress and the bed frame are frequently used in the UK.

Bedding products for house-dust-mite-allergy sufferers should be washable at not less than 60°C (follow care instructions on the label). Allergens are removed during each washing cycle. To remove the mites, however, temperatures of at least 60°C are necessary.

The Association of German Allergists (ÄDA) recommends to these patients to regularly wash their duvets, bed linen etc. at at least 60°C.

 

Bedding articles which carry the NOMITE label are suitable for house-dust-mite allergy sufferers.

 

In 1992, Prof. Dr. Dr.