[Sensitization to house dust mite allergens: diagnosis--therapy]

The 2 closely related house dust mites, D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae seem to be of major allergenic importance in the house dust. The faeces particles, in particular, contain allergenic material in a concentrated form. Practicable control measures, such as chemicals, cleaning, ventilation and temperature regulation, have been able to reduce the number of mites in houses to some extend, and, in general, the clinical effect has been limited. The immunotherapy could be appropriate for this type of allergy, and, in fact, in some studies such treatment has proved to be of some effect. In our own experience, control measures to reduce the mites, antiallergic drug therapy and controlled holidays in a mite free climate allow to reduce by far the mite allergen symptoms. In addition the immunotherapy could be of some success depending on the allergens, the doses of the allergen extract given and the duration of the therapy. It is still an open question, whether the therapeutic effect of the immunotherapy is of long duration after the immunotherapy has been finished.