Climate change and allergic diseases caused by house dust mites

Abstract

Allergic diseases, such as asthma and rhinitis, are highly susceptible to changes in environmental conditions. The current climate change, driven in part by intense atmospheric pollution, has been associated with an increase in the frequency and severity of these diseases. The most common environmental allergens include pollens, molds, cockroaches, and mites that inhabit indoor environments, commonly referred to as house dust mites. In this context, environmental factors such as air pollution, temperature, and humidity, which can modify the presence and abundance of these allergens, may influence the natural history of allergic diseases, particularly respiratory allergies. There is extensive scientific literature on how climate change has affected the epidemiology of pollen-induced allergic diseases; however, information regarding its impact on allergies caused by house dust mites remains scarce. In this review, we analyzed several studies conducted mainly in tropical regions and found strong evidence that air pollution increases sensitization to house dust mites and the allergic diseases they induce. This effect occurs through two main mechanisms: increases in temperature and humidity, which favor mite growth and allergen production, and the direct adjuvant effects of air pollutants on allergen-specific IgE responses. The present trend toward increasing temperature and humidity may expand the risk of house dust mite–induced allergic diseases into subtropical and temperate regions.