Allergies caused by pet dander, dust mites, mold spores and household products can trigger runny noses, watery eyes and nasal congestion – and allergy medications and changes to your environment may help.
Indoor allergies differ from seasonal ones in that their symptoms appear year-round. It’s essential that any time these symptoms arise they be properly diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to ensure a full recovery from them.
Pet Allergies
Pet allergies cause symptoms like runny noses, sneezing and wheezing when in contact with cats or dogs, often in combination with asthma. The cause is that an individual’s immune system produces antibodies against proteins found in saliva or dander that is then inhaled into their lungs which produces histamine triggering runny noses, itchy eyes and sneezing reactions from animals such as rabbits, ferrets or birds causing histamine-based allergic responses that cause these reactions in people’s immune systems against allies that attack them and lead to its production making these symptoms noticeable when coming into contact with pets such as cats and dogs.
Testing allergy levels is typically the first step to diagnosing pet allergies. An allergist will clean a small area of skin such as the forearm before placing drops of potential allergens on it and lightly scratching with a lancet until your body reacts and releases histamine, measuring how strongly an allergy exists to that specific pet allergen. The stronger your reaction is, the greater the degree of an allergy is likely present.
Some doctors advise finding new homes for pets if someone is allergic, although this may be difficult when they have developed an emotional attachment to the animal. Other solutions may include thoroughly cleaning your home – particularly your bedroom – replacing any upholstered furniture and laundering fabrics regularly as well as taking antihistamine medication to reduce allergy symptoms.
Mold Allergies
Mold is a type of fungus that thrives in many different environments both indoors and out. When growing, mold releases spores into the air that may trigger allergies in those sensitive to them, similar to pet dander or pollen allergens; symptoms of which include skin and eye itchiness, sneezing, runny nose congestion and nasal congestion – symptoms which may worsen further when exposed to outdoor mold spores at high levels during spring and summer seasons.
Individuals allergic to mold may develop hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a serious lung condition similar to pneumonia. This occurs when their immune systems becomes oversensitive to specific types of mold spores and begins attacking them; over time this leads to antibodies build-up in their lungs that make breathing difficult.
Allergies to mold spores can be identified with either a skin test or blood test. A skin prick test involves placing small amounts of mold allergens directly on your arm or back and watching for any adverse reaction; while a blood test measures antibodies in your bloodstream directed against specific allergens like mold spores.
Dust Mite Allergies
Dust mites are tiny creatures that thrive in warm environments and feed off dead skin cells to cause year-round allergies and asthma attacks, being found on every continent except Antarctica and are one of the primary contributors to atopic diseases like asthma, eczema and hay fever.
Dust mite allergies result from two sources. One type is produced by dust mite droppings; while the second, which remains after their demise and can be absorbed through skin contact, is known to trigger allergies in some people.
As soon as you inhale waste products from dust mites, your immune system responds by producing immunoglobulin E or IgE antibodies which target proteins found in their feces and residue. This overreaction results in symptoms associated with dust mite allergies – sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes to name just some of them.
Treating dust allergies involves frequently washing bedding and toys in hot water and reducing humidity in the house with air conditioning or dehumidification, as well as testing for IgE blood levels (see separate leaflet called Skin Prick Allergy Test). A doctor may also prescribe antihistamine drops, nasal sprays, or pills to reduce symptoms.
Airborne Allergens
Sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose symptoms associated with airborne allergies result from your immune system overreacting to substances normally circulating in the air – known as allergens – such as pollen, spores, pet dander, dust mites or insect feces. Airborne allergies tend to be more prevalent among those suffering from allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or asthma.
Mold spores from Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium species can trigger allergic symptoms. Molds tend to thrive in damp places like basements; during warm, humid days they release their spores into the air; additionally they have also been discovered indoors after rain or mulching events, potentially leading to allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and asthma attacks in those exposed.
Pollens are the male gametes of plants that, through pollination, reach and fertilise another plant of their same species to fertilize it. Pollens are dispersed into the air by wind or carried by insects or animal feces and are one of the main sources of allergy rhinitis and asthma symptoms, often leading to itchy eyes or noses as a result.
Your healthcare provider can assist in devising strategies to avoid allergens that cause your symptoms, such as hiring someone to cut the grass when pollen counts are high or installing a HEPA air filter in your home, washing sheets and pillowcases weekly with hot water, or covering mattresses and pillows with mite-proof covers. Allergy testing may be helpful in pinpointing which allergens are triggering your reactions; for airborne allergies this includes over-the-counter or prescription medications as well as immunotherapy treatments.
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