Mario Lamorticella is a Portland area electrical engineer who is at war with dust mites.

In his bedroom, he lifts the corner of his blanket and sheets to reveal his latest weapon, a white colored fabric that encases his mattress.

"This is the cover that you buy that protects against the dust mites," he said.

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live off human skin.

They’re found in areas of relatively high humidity, in mattresses, pillows, stuffed animals and comforters.

The allergic reaction comes from the unpleasant fact that like most creatures---dust mites poop.

That's what our bodies object to when we inhale.

"That's right. That's right,” said allergist, Dr. Barzin Khalili.

“Its really their fecal matter or their waste products that people develop an allergic reaction to," he said.

Dr. Khalili says typical reactions include an itchy, watery nose; itchy eyes or asthma like symptoms.

That’s exactly what Mario suffered from beginning in the summer of 2007.

"I'd lose sleep over it---I'd just be tired during the day,” he said.

“But it would start to clear up---I'd feel a little better---but then at night it would just repeat again,” Lamorticella said.

 More: KGW Special reports

Dr. Khalili recommends his dust mite patients get special dust mite proof encasements for their bedding.

“What the encasement does is keeps the millions and millions of dust mites that are already living in pillows and comforters from coming out," he said.

It’s important to be sure the fabric really will stop the dust mites.

"You don’t want to look for just hypoallergenic because hypoallergenic is kind of a catch all term that can mean a lot of different things and it may not specifically be protective for dust mites,” said Dr. Khalili.

The results for Mario Lamorticella impressed him.

He’d been taking three different medications to fight the allergic symptoms.

But after buying dust mite proof encasements for his mattress and comforter, he’s off the medicine and breathing freely.

"I feel good," he said with a smile.

"If I don’t get a full night sleep its not because of the dust mites!" he said.

We've included some links to information on allergies and dust mites---along with a couple web sites that offer dust mite proof materials.

You’ll find many more on the internet.