Dust Mite Allergy Diagnosis and Prevention
Medically Reviewed by
- Ronald L. Brown, M.D.
Question
How would I know if I have a dust mite allergy? Sometimes when I'm cleaning the house my eyes start to itch, I sneeze, and my asthma kicks in. How would this type of allergic reaction differ from a plant allergy? Is there anything I can do about it?
Answer
Dust mite allergy is diagnosed by obtaining a positive history (yours sounds suspicious) and having a positive allergy test (skin or blood) to dust mite.
Pollen (plant) allergy would have similar symptoms but would be mostly during spring only.
The three types of treatment for dust mite allergy include environmental control, medications and immunotherapy (allergy shots).