Can termite dust make me sick?

Question: I am a renter and am constantly vacuuming up termite dust. It falls in three specific areas in my bedroom. My landlord is “supposedly” taking care of the problem, but I want to know if the termites and termite dust could be causing me to get sick? I am usually a healthy person, but in the last couple of months I have gotten quick sick several times.

Answer: I don’t know what you mean by termite dust—perhaps the small granules that can come from a drywood termite infestation—these are not likely making you ill. I would recommend you visit with a doctor about this.