Frequency of sensitizations and allergies to house dust mites

Domestic mites is the term used to describe dust mites and storage mites that prefer to live in houses and to which many people develop sensitization through the formation of specific IgE antibodies due to the high allergenic potency of mite allergens. As a result, mites can trigger allergic diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract as well as cross-reactions to other allergens. Sensitization to house mites is widespread in the German population. About 11 million adults are sensitized in Germany (15.9%). Men are more frequently affected than women, and sensitizations occur more frequently in large cities and with higher socioeconomic status. Sensitizations are less frequent in old age. They can lead to diagnostic problems as clinically silent sensitizations, which is the case in about 40% of sensitizations.