Mite-Proof Bedding Can Help Cut Back on Children’s Asthma Attacks

Children with asthma are reported to have less severe attacks if their beds are covered with mite-proof protection.

Dust mites, which are 8-legged bugs too small to be seen by the naked eye, are one of the most common asthma triggers. Dust mites do not bite or sting, but instead live off of the dead skin cells that we discard daily. The proteins in their bodies, as well as their droppings, can cause both allergies and asthma.

Most homes have traces of dust mites regardless of how often they are cleaned. They can be found on any surface, but are most commonly located in pillows, mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets and curtains.

Research conducted in England, during which 284 children with asthma were given bed casings, found a relationship between dust mites and allergy or asthma-based flare-ups. In the study—which was published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine—some children’s beds were covered with mite-proof bedding, while others were covered with a placebo bedding. Researchers then tracked the children for a year, reporting and analyzing the results.