Feather mites in pillows: how to get rid of the danger that hides in bedding
Urban dwellings are a favorable habitat for microscopic insects: pillow mites and other types of mites. Often a person does not think that someone lives in pillows, upholstery of upholstered furniture, until unpleasant symptoms arise in the form of allergies, disorders of the broncho-pulmonary system and dermatitis.
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Feather mites: what are they
These are microscopic arachnid parasites that cannot be seen with the naked eye. They live in house dust, pillows. Insects feed on pieces of dead epidermis, feathers, hair, natural human secretions.
Tick in the pillow: morphology
The size of the parasite is 0,1-0,5 mm, which allows it to go unnoticed for a long time. When viewed through a microscope, its morphological features can be distinguished:
- oval convex body covered with bristles;
- 4 pairs of legs;
- suction cups on the limbs, with the help of which the tick clings to the surface;
- powerful claw-like appendages with which the insect gnaws particles of human skin.
Ticks on pillows: stages of development
The life cycle of parasites is 65-80 days. Their stages of development:
- egg;
- larva;
- molting;
- imago.
Unlike most arthropods, dust mites do not have a pupal stage. Egg laying occurs daily, in general, one female is able to lay up to 60 eggs. Young larvae emerge from the eggs, which begin to actively seek food in order to carry out a series of molts.
Pillow mites: features of nutrition and reproduction
How to understand what it is exactly ticks: the main symptoms
The main symptom of the presence of a large number of ticks is an allergic reaction, which most often occurs in children due to an immature immune system. These reactions are caused by the excrement of parasites: they contain a significant amount of antigens.
Allergies can manifest themselves as follows:
- nasal congestion, sneezing;
- conjunctivitis, lacrimation, swelling of the eyelids;
- hives, itching and peeling of the skin.
At home, the pillow parasite can be seen with a magnifying glass. To do this, it is necessary to inspect the frames of upholstered furniture, animal bedding, curtains, etc. Under a magnifying glass, these insects look like white grains.
You can purchase special test strips. Dust or a small part of the filler from the pillow is mixed with water and a strip is lowered there. By the color of the indicator, you can judge the number of parasites.
What effect do they have on people than are dangerous
As mentioned above, linen mites provoke allergic reactions in humans.
| Danger of being bitten by a linen tick | These insects do not bite, do not sting people and animals, do not stick to their skin and are not carriers of infectious diseases. |
| What causes allergies in humans | Small particles of arachnids, their feces, which contain the proteins Der f1 and Der p1, are strong allergens. If you do not fight insects in the house, then the consequences can be very serious: Quincke's edema, bronchial asthma, chronic rhinitis. |
| Aftermath | In addition, in some cases, respiratory arrest may occur due to swelling of the airways. The most susceptible to these allergens are children living in urban apartments. It is known that up to 70% of cases of bronchial asthma were preceded by an allergy to dust mites. |
| Allergy treatment | Treatment of dust mite allergy is reduced to taking antihistamines and corticosteroids. The former suppress the secretion of histamine, which greatly alleviates the condition. The latter suppress inflammatory reactions in the airways, improve lung function. |
Ticks in feather pillows: how to get rid of them
Parasites do not tolerate bright sunlight and fresh air, so experts recommend not making the bed immediately after sleep, but letting it “breathe”.
Chemicals
There are many pest control products on the market. All of them are based on tannin, borate, benzyl benzoate. The preparations are available in the form of sprays, aerosols, in liquid form for adding to washing powder and as a means for cleaning upholstered furniture and carpets.
Folk remedies
There are also folk methods of dealing with parasites living in pillows.
| Salt treatment | In 1 l. water dissolve 200 gr. table salt. Dip a napkin into the solution and treat objects and fabric surfaces, rinse window sills, baseboards. Cleaning should be done 2-3 times a month. |
| Essential oils | When cleaning and washing, use lavender and lemon oils. Prepare a solution: for 10 liters. water 5 drops of oil. Rinse the surfaces in the house with the resulting mixture. When washing, add 2-3 drops of an odorous component to the washing powder. |
| Laundry soap and ammonia | Prepare a solution of soap and ammonia, pour into a spray bottle, spray on upholstered furniture and carpets. Vacuum after complete drying. |
| Terms of Use | Before processing, children and animals should be removed from the premises, as many substances have a pungent odor. During cleaning, you need to use a respirator and protective gloves. |
Ticks that live in pillows: prevention of infection
Preventive measures will help reduce the total number of insects, as well as reduce the rate of their reproduction.
Caring for pillows with natural filling
Feather pillows are hard to care for. It is necessary to dry them every summer, and freeze them in winter. In addition, it is necessary to wash the pen at least once every two years. It is advisable to use the services of dry cleaning, but you can do it yourself:
- pour the feather into a specially prepared bag, tie it tightly;
- prepare a disinfectant solution: mix 10 g in 100 liters of water. laundry soap and the same amount of ammonia;
- lower the bag into the resulting liquid and soak for 4 hours, periodically turn the bag over and knead it with your hands;
- rinse the bag in clean water until it becomes transparent;
- take out the bag to fresh air, dry it, shaking occasionally.
At the same time, wash the bedclothes at a temperature not lower than 60 degrees, heat treat with an iron or steamer.
Feather alternative
Currently, the market offers a large selection of pillows with different fillers, which are not inferior in their qualities to down and feather, but have the advantage that dust mites do not start in them.
Fillers of vegetable origin:
- bamboo fiber - has an antibacterial effect and high breathability;
- latex - elastic, unpretentious in care;
- buckwheat husk - pleasant to the touch, has a light aroma.
Synthetic fillers:
- komforel - consists of elastic balls, has an anti-stress effect;
- synthetic winterizer - the most affordable;
- holofiber - soft, withstands many washes.
When choosing a filler for a pillow, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of a person: age, gender, preferences. So for children, hypoallergenic fillers of plant origin are most preferable.
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