Mar 12, 2012 – Are Doctors Entomologists?
QUESTION:
I was contacted today by a PMP asking if I've heard of a Dirt Mite and if so how to treat them. I suggested he collect a sample of the bug to properly identify what he's needing to treat, however his customer's doctor diagnosed the problem as Dirt Mites. Do Dirt Mites exist and if so what is the best method for treatment?
ANSWER:
Forgive my ever-growing cynicism Connie, but doctors appear to be the last people we want to take advice from on the topic of arthropods or pest management. They may be very knowledgeable on the topic of medicine but they really don't have much knowledge on mites, bed bugs, spiders, and most other pest bugs, and I have seen horrid misidentifications by them on crab lice, scabies, and other lice. It would be unlikely that most doctors could look at a mite and properly identify it, much less provide a useful I.D. based upon the patient's description of symptoms or other circumstances in their home.
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I was contacted today by a PMP asking if I've heard of a Dirt Mite and if so how to treat them. I suggested he collect a sample of the bug to properly identify what he's needing to treat, however his customer's doctor diagnosed the problem as Dirt Mites. Do Dirt Mites exist and if so what is the best method for treatment?
ANSWER:
Forgive my ever-growing cynicism Connie, but doctors appear to be the last people we want to take advice from on the topic of arthropods or pest management. They may be very knowledgeable on the topic of medicine but they really don't have much knowledge on mites, bed bugs, spiders, and most other pest bugs, and I have seen horrid misidentifications by them on crab lice, scabies, and other lice. It would be unlikely that most doctors could look at a mite and properly identify it, much less provide a useful I.D. based upon the patient's description of symptoms or other circumstances in their home.
Without a doubt there are many species of mites that live in soil, but I suspect what this doctor was referring to was Dust Mites, and to call them "dirt" mites is very inaccurate. Without knowing what problems this person had that the doctor blamed on mites I would be unable to offer any suggestions as to what kinds of arthropods could be causing them. Dust mites really cause only one human health problem, and that is allergies and possible asthmatic symptoms. The various bits of materials associated with the mites - shed skins, feces - can trigger allergic responses in sensitive people.
Treatment has almost nothing to do with pesticides or the PMP. Dust mites are most common in areas of high humidity, and in many dry areas of the country are almost non-existent. The internet is filled with websites that offer absolute horror stories about the unbelievable abundance of these mites in homes, mattresses, and pillows, and that is also my take on these website - NOT to be believed. If you read them carefully most are trying to sell something to unwary people, including one website that actually tries to sell an ultrasonic repelling device to rid the house of dust mites. Well, considering the fact that dust mites are microscopic and move hardly at all, it is unlikely that they would be able to scurry on out of the house even if these fraudulent devices actually repelled them.
You can find a great deal of information on dealing with dust mites on university websites, which I believe will be responsible and factual places to look. Lowering humidity in the home is much of the control, along with very thorough cleaning and the use of a HEPA-filtered vacuum. But, it also would be, as you suggest, highly important to get an accurate identification of whatever may be present in this home, and if it is mites try to find someone who is qualified for the ID.
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