Dust Mite Glossary

acaricide – a chemical or combination of chemicals designed to kill mites.

adult – A sexually mature individual organism.

allergen – a substance that triggers an allergic reaction in some people, but not everyone.

Common allergens include: pollen, cat dander, dust mites, and mold.

allergic rhinitis – The clinical term for “hay fever.” Inflammation of the upper

respiratory system in response to an allergen, usually manifested by a

stuffy, runny nose, sneezing, and clogged sinuses.

allergy – an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that is “normally”

harmless when inhaled, ingested, or touched.

antibody – A protein produced in white blood cells that bonds with the surface molecules

of bacteria, viruses, allergens, and other intruders into the human body.

Different antibodies react to different microbes and other invaders.

arachnid – a class of animals that includes dust mites, ticks and other mites, spiders,

scorpions, harvestmen (daddy-longlegs), and other arachnids.

arthropod – An organism belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, which includes insects,

spiders, mites, scorpions, crustaceans, and other animals with jointed

appendages.

asthma – Inflammation of the lower respiratory system (bronchial tubes and lungs),

triggered by allergens, exercise, or stress. Symptoms include shortness of

breath, tight feeling in the chest, and wheezing.

atopic dermatitis – The clinical term for eczema, an inflammation of the skin

characterized by an intensely itchy, red rash, usually on the face in

infants and children, but also around elbows and other joints in adults.

class – One division in the classification of organisms that ranks above “order” and

“family,” but beneath “phylum.”

conjunctivitis – Inflammation of the mucus membrane of the eyes, often triggered by

airborne allergens. Symptoms include red, itchy, and watery eyes.

cuticle – A term often used interchangeably with “exoskeleton,” the outer covering of

mites, spiders, insects, and related invertebrates.

dander – The dead, shed skin cells of non-human mammals, especially in an airborne

state.

denatured – An altered form of a chemical compound or protein. Denatured allergens

become inactive, and unable to elicit an allergic reaction from the immune

system in hypersensitive individuals.

eczema – (atopic dermatitis) An inflammation of the skin characterized by an intensely

itchy, red rash, usually on the face in infants and children, but also around

elbows and other joints in adults.

EPA – Acronym for the Environmental Protection Agency, a federal (U.S. government)

department assigned the task of regulating pesticides, acaricides, and other

chemicals used in agriculture, mining, forestry, and similar large-scale enterprises.

exoskeleton – The external “skin” or “cuticle” of arthropods such as insects, spiders,

mites, and crustaceans, usually hard and inflexible.

family – One division in the classification of organisms that ranks above “genus” and

beneath “order.” Dust mites are in the family Pyroglyphidae.

FDA – Acronym for the Food and Drug Administration, a federal (U.S. government)

agency assigned the task of regulating food and pharmaceutical product quality.

genus – One division in the classification of organisms that ranks above “species” and

beneath “family.” A genus is a group of related species.

HEPA filter – Acronym for “High Efficiency Particulate Air” filter. A device designed

to cleanse the air of small particles.

histamine – A chemical compound secreted by the immune system that triggers an

allergic response to a given allergen, and the symptoms associated with

asthma.

hives – The common term for “urticaria,” referring to inflammation of the skin

manifested by the appearance of many raised, red, itchy welts (“wheals” in

medical terminology).

humidity – The amount of water vapor in the air, measured with a hygrometer and

defined as “low” or “dry” (little moisture in the air) to “high” or “sticky”

(high water saturation of the atmosphere).

hypersensitivity – A higher than normal reaction of the immune system in response to a

particular substance (allergen).

immunotherapy – Medical treatment for allergies usually consisting of injections of a low

dose of an allergen extract designed to calm the immune system upon

exposure to that allergen in day-to-day life.

invertebrate – A type of animal without a backbone (spine).

larva – The first life stage of a dust mite that emerges from the egg.

metamorphosis – The growth and maturity of some animals through a series of very

different life stages. The typical life cycle of insects and amphibians.

mite – A type of arachnid with one major body part. Mites are usually small, with ticks

being among the largest of mites.

molt – The discarded exoskeleton or “skin” of an animal. The incidence of shedding that

covering.

molting – The act of an animal shedding its outer coat. This means the shedding of the

exoskeleton in insects, spiders, mites, crustaceans, and related animals in the

phylum Arthropoda.

order – One division in the classification of organisms that ranks below “class” and

above “family.” Dust mites are in the order Acari (or Acarina).

phylum – One division in the classification of organisms that ranks below “kingdom” and

above “class.” Dust mites are in the phylum Arthropoda, the kingdom

Animalia, and the class Arachnida.

protonymph – The second life stage of a dust mite after the larval stage. A dust mite

gains its full complement of legs (eight) in this stage.

pyrethroid – a class of insecticides and acaricides manufactured from naturally occurring

chemical compounds in Chrysanthemum plants.

rhinitis – Inflammation of the upper respiratory system (nose, sinuses, throat), usually

manifested by a stuffy, runny nose, sneezing, and clogged sinuses.

species – Usually the most specific name for organisms with interbreeding populations.

A division in the classification of organisms that ranks below “genus.”

symptom – An outward, obvious indication of an illness. A skin rash, sneezing, redness,

watery eyes, and runny nose can all be examples of symptoms of allergy.

tritonymph – The third life stage of a dust mite after the protonymph stage and before

the adult stage.

urticaria – The medical term for “hives,” referring to inflammation of the skin

manifested by the appearance of many raised, red, itchy welts (“wheals” in

medical terminology).

UV-C – a specific type of ultraviolet (UV) light that is lethal to some microbes and the

eggs of dust mites.