Allergy to house-dust mites

The prevalence of atopic disease in Switzerland is 15-20%. About 30% of the se patients have perennial symptoms and a substantial proportion are allerg ic 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 q uarter of asthma and a quarter of asthma and rhinitis. The diagnosis is usu ally by history, skin prick tests and if necessary provocation. Therapy inc ludes allergen avoidance (reduction of air humidity in dwellings by ventila tion, encasing of mattresses and bedding), medication (mainly topical corti costeroids) and specific immunotherapy.