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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

The following factors increase your risk of developing a dust mite allergy:

  • Family history. You're more likely to develop a sensitivity to dust mites if allergies run in your family.
  • Exposure. Being exposed to high levels of dust mites, especially early in life, increases your risk.
  • Age. You're more likely to develop dust mite allergy during childhood or early adulthood.
References
  1. Platts-Mills, TAE. Indoor allergens. In: Adkinson NF, et al. Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00033-4--cesec40&isbn=978-0-323-05659-5&sid=1049616576&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00033-4--cesec41&uniqId=217729073-3#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00033-4--cesec41. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  2. Atkins D, et al. Diagnosis of allergic disease. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/217729073-4/1049619087/1608/434.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50142-0--cesec3_3369. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  3. Balkissoon RC, et al. Disorders of the upper airways. In: Mason RJ, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00043-2--s0015&isbn=978-1-4160-4710-0&sid=1049622658&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00043-2--s0055&uniqId=217729073-5#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4710-0..00043-2--s0055. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  4. DeShazo RD, et al. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (rhinosinusitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  5. DeShazo RD, et al. Clinical manifestations and epidemiology of allergic rhinitis (rhinosinusitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  6. DeShazo RD, et al. Pharmacotherapy of allergic rhinitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  7. Managing indoor allergen culprits. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/elements/2009/12/1209_elements.pdf. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  8. Dust mites. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/asthma/dustmites.html. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  9. Ferguson BJ. Environmental controls of allergies. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2008;41:411.
  10. Tips to remember: Allergy testing. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatisallergytesting.stm. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  11. Tips to remember: Allergy shots. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatareallergyshots.stm. Accessed Sept. 8, 2010.
  12. Li JT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 13, 2010.
DS00842 Nov. 5, 2010

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