The residue that dust mites leave behind in the form of their feces and decaying bodies mixes with dust and becomes airborne. Inhaling the residue can cause allergy symptoms, including wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose.

Asthma, Allergies and Dust Mite Allergens

If you have a dust mite allergy, you may exhibit the signs and symptoms of hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Dust mite allergy symptoms may include:

• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
• Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes
• Postnasal drip
• Cough
• Irritability
• Facial pressure and pain

If you have asthma, you may also experience increased signs and symptoms of asthma, such as:

• Lung congestion
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath

You may be especially prone to asthma attacks at night, when sleeping in a bed infested with dust mites.

A dust mite allergy can range from mild to severe. A mild case of dust mite allergy may result in an occasional runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. In severe cases, the condition is chronic — resulting in, for example, persistent wheezing, sneezing, congestion and facial pressure.

Complications

You're more likely to develop asthma — a condition in which the main air passages of your lungs (bronchial tubes) become inflamed and your airways become narrowed — if you're already sensitive to environmental allergens, including dust mites.

If you already have asthma, dust mite allergy or exposure to dust mites can cause an increase in asthma signs and symptoms, including shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. For this reason, taking measures to decrease the number of dust mites in your home can improve control of asthma.