NHS Choices has conducted an assessment of a report in The Independent that at least 12 million Britons now suffer from allergies caused by dust mites. This is based on a report by the charity Allergy UK which has suggested an epidemic of “home fever”, a range of symptoms caused by dust mites and other triggers around the home. The report has been published as part of Indoor Allergy Week, which is intended to raise awareness of the kind of steps that can be taken to remove allergy triggers, or ‘allergens’, from the home.

The assessment addresses the following questions about the report and its findings:

• What is “home fever”?

• Who compiled the report?

• What did the report say?

• How common are household allergies?

• What causes household allergies?

• What can I do to ease my allergies?

• Do these preventative measures work?

It concludes “the new report raises lots of questions, such as whether its small survey of symptoms in 1600 allergy sufferers is actually strong enough evidence to suggest that there is an epidemic sweeping the nation. Also, the report’s suggestions to change your mattress and use an air filter are likely to raise a few eyebrows since the awareness week is being run in conjunction with a mattress company and an air filter manufacturer.”