Definition
Definition
Mites belong to the order Arachnids (like spiders, scorpions). They have 8 legs.
Parasites of humans, they are responsible for dust allergies.
Generalities
These arachnids, appear in the form of a small, voluminous disc, with an abdomen to which is attached a thorax, also containing the head (cephalothorax). The separation between these two parts is not clear.
They feed on the blood, and dander (dead skin among other things) of human beings. After biting, which only causes temporary discomfort, the mites suck the blood of their victims, and at the same time transmit certain diseases (see below).
Symptoms
Pathophysiology
The mites live on the skin, and are most often bloodsucking, that is, they feed on the blood of their host. Some mites cause dermatoses (skin disease), accompanied by a pruritus (itching). This is the case for:
- Red mullet.
- Sarcoptes scabies.
- Augustats.
Other mites cause more severe pathologies:
- The ticks are at the origin:
- The arboviruses (various viral fevers).
- The borreliosis (recurrent fevers, Lyme disease)
- The rickettsioses (spotted fevers)
- From Q fever.
- The dermatophagoids pteronyssinus and the dermatophagoides farinaes, cause various allergies.
- Glycyphagus glycyphagidae is a source of allergies.
- Tyrophagus putrescentiae can be observed in the dust of certain very humid houses, or in moldy hay.
- Acarus siro is the cause of allergies in cheesemakers.
- Panonychus ulmi is responsible for allergies among apple growers.