Dust Mites and Asthma in Children: Causes, Risks, and Effective Solutions

How to Protect Your Child

Dust mite allergy is very common in children with asthma. A dusty bedroom or an infested mattress can significantly worsen symptoms, especially at night.

Understanding the role of dust mites and knowing how to eliminate them is essential for improving your child’s quality of life and sleep through simple, effective daily actions.

Why Dust Mites Make Asthma Worse in Children

In some children, dust mites don’t just trigger an allergy—they directly worsen asthma, especially at night. The real allergens are dust mite droppings, which accumulate in household dust. These microscopic particles are easily inhaled during sleep, in contact with the mattress, pillow, and bedding.

The effects are clear: nighttime coughing, wheezing, more frequent asthma attacks, and poor-quality sleep.

A Common and Often Underestimated Allergy

Dust mite allergy is as common as eczema or allergic rhinitis. Yet in children with asthma, it is often underestimated, even though it can increase the frequency and severity of attacks.

In urban areas, dust mites are one of the main causes of respiratory allergies in children. Symptoms can appear very early and may persist for several years if the sleeping environment is not properly maintained.

How to Reduce the Impact of Dust Mites in Asthmatic Children

Allergists agree: reducing dust mite exposure is essential for improving allergic asthma. Even with proper medical treatment, a bedroom full of allergens can limit results.

Protecting your child from dust mites and asthma can be simple with a few daily habits. Regularly treating the mattress with an effective dust mite solution helps reduce allergens and improve nighttime breathing. Ventilating the bedroom every day and washing bedding at 60°C or higher removes dust and mites. Limiting stuffed toys, rugs, or heavy curtains also helps create a clean and breathable environment. With these easy actions, your child can sleep better, breathe more easily, and reduce asthma attacks.

Sources / References

• https://www.ameli.fr/ : Allergic asthma and home prevention
• https://www.aaaai.org/ : Dust mite allergy in children
• https://www.farmaline.be/ : Health advice
• https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/ : Dust mites and asthma
• https://www.aha.ch/ : Swiss allergy center, dust mite allergy