Millions of people suffer from allergies caused by common indoor allergens like dust mite droppings, cockroaches and animal dander. Fungus spores and mold are also known to trigger reactions in some individuals.
Allergy medications, both over-the-counter and prescription, may help alleviate symptoms associated with allergies. Your physician may also suggest immunotherapy treatment as a long-term strategy to strengthen immunity against allergens.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are tiny relatives of spiders that live in warm and humid places. They feed off dead skin shed by humans and animals alike as well as any fungi, plant matter or debris found in bedding, mattresses, carpeting or upholstered furniture. Dust mite proteins cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to them, including sneezing, runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. The symptoms include sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. Antihistamines, decongestants and corticosteroid nasal sprays can effectively manage allergy symptoms. Skin prick tests conducted by your allergist can also help identify whether you’re sensitive to dust mite proteins indoors. Prick tests create small raised areas of skin called wheals which resemble bug bites; their results help them determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
Other indoor allergens commonly encountered include pet dander, mold spores and cockroaches. Allergens found in these particles may produce similar symptoms to pollen but tend to persist longer and be further exacerbated by cold weather or exercise.
Mold
Molds are microscopic fungi that thrive in damp environments. Mold can lead to itchy eyes and runny nose, while its allergic reactions can aggravate asthma symptoms in those suffering from asthma. Breathing in mold spores may even result in hypersensitivity pneumonitis – a serious lung disorder.
Allergies to mold spores tend to peak between July and fall, though they can happen any time of year in humid regions. Mold allergies often resemble reactions caused by grass pollen; symptoms typically include sneezing, watery eyes, runny noses, itchy skin patches and other uncomfortable reactions that often manifest themselves when working outside. People working outside may often experience these allergic reactions first hand.
Mold allergies cause an immune response that produces antibodies, which then react against the mold spores to reduce symptoms. If your doctor suspects you of being susceptible, they will take a comprehensive medical history and physical exam, then conduct either skin testing or blood analysis for allergies – for skin testing they use small needles dipped into mold extract on them to see if your skin reacts, while blood analysis checks IgE antibodies as indicators for severity.
Animals
Animal allergies are caused by proteins in saliva and skin glands which cling to fur and dander (dead skin flakes), sticking it to walls, blankets, carpeting and clothing. The allergens produced can trigger symptoms ranging from sniffling and sneezing to potentially life-threatening asthma attacks and are especially prevalent among dogs and cats, though can also be found among rodent pets such as mice, rats, hamsters and guinea pigs; reptiles and fish.
Allergens from cat and dog dander can be found in many households, though concentrations tend to be 10-1000 times greater in homes with pets. Cat-dander allergen Fel d 1 is one of the dominant allergens while Can f1 allergen is responsible for most canine allergies; sensitization to either of these allergens is an accurate predictor of allergic symptoms.
To reduce exposure to pet allergens, confine animals to one room in your house. Vacuum regularly and wash bedding frequently. Consider installing wood or linoleum floors over wall-to-wall carpet. Medication such as antihistamines and decongestants may help alleviate allergy symptoms; seek advice from your allergist. Unfortunately there is no such thing as an allergen-free animal breed; however the steps outlined can hasten clearing away residual allergens.
Medications
Allergies to common indoor substances such as dust mites, cockroaches and fungi can cause respiratory symptoms like itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing. Indoor allergens cause symptoms year-round but often worsen in colder months when people spend more time inside their homes. One hundred million Americans are immunologically sensitized to indoor allergens which could eventually result in allergic disease.
To protect against indoor allergies, the best strategy is to ensure a clean home environment; using wood flooring rather than wall-to-wall carpeting and running a HEPA air cleaner are great ways of keeping allergens under control. In addition, regularly washing bed linens with hot water is another effective method. If symptoms still exist after making these adjustments, consult with a doctor as allergy tests can identify which substances trigger symptoms – skin tests usually involve pricking the skin with small amounts of allergens like tree pollen or pet dander and monitoring for reactions like raised bumps with redness around it if they trigger.
Antihistamines and nasal decongestant sprays containing pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) may provide temporary relief of allergy symptoms. If you have experienced severe anaphylactic reactions such as anaphylaxis, consult with your physician about carrying a self-injectable device containing adrenaline to manage symptoms until medical help arrives.
Allergy Shots
Allergy shots (also referred to as subcutaneous immunotherapy or SLIT) help your immune system become less reactive to allergens that trigger symptoms, potentially decreasing allergy symptoms and medication needs. Allergy shots may also improve asthma symptoms by decreasing allergic reactions that trigger asthma episodes.
Before initiating allergy shots, your healthcare provider will use skin tests or blood tests to pinpoint which allergens are triggering your symptoms. They’ll create a custom blend of allergenic extracts for an allergy shot once or twice each week until reaching what’s known as a maintenance dose – after which shots will continue every month for three to five years or beyond.
Redness and swelling at the injection site are typical side effects, which typically subside soon after receiving your shot. More serious reactions such as sneezing, nasal congestion and hives are less likely to happen but should still be reported immediately to an allergy nurse if these more serious reactions appear.
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