Allergies cause the immune system to overreact against normally harmless substances, leading to symptoms like sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes.
Indoor allergies are caused by things such as dust mites, pet dander and mold spores that can trigger year-round symptoms.
Recent advances in allergen identification, cloning and expression have created greater insight into their roles in allergies.
Dust Mites
Millions of people worldwide suffer year-round from allergies caused by dust mites – microscopic relatives of ticks and spiders that cannot be seen with the naked eye – that reside in bedding, mattresses, pillows, upholstered furniture and carpets and feed on dead skin cells from humans and pets alike. Their proteins produce an allergic response in sensitive individuals that manifest as runny noses, itchy, watery eyes or even sneezing fits.
Dust mite feces contains potent allergens that can aggravate asthma or allergic eczema, while even less-potent proteins may trigger it. When their pellets disintegrate into fine powder that floats freely through the air and can easily be breathed in; furthermore, this powder can irritate skin surfaces causing red and itchy rashes known as atopic dermatitis.
To reduce house dust mites, replace wall-to-wall carpet with hard surface flooring and keep mattresses, pillows and upholstered furniture covered with tight-woven allergy proof covers. Vacuum frequently; using an HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter in your vacuum cleaner helps, as does damp cleaning floors weekly with a cloth designed to trap and hold dust for easier removal from the air. Also look out for products certified as Asthma & Allergy Friendly(r). This should reduce dust mites in your home!
Pets
Most families adore their furry family members, yet they can sometimes trigger indoor allergies. Proteins found in dog or cat dander (dead skin cells), saliva, or urine can give children runny noses, itchy, watery eyes, runny noses and possibly asthma in those sensitized to it.
Rodents such as mice, gerbils and hamsters produce pet dander; their droppings may also contain allergens which can be carried home on clothing or found in their cages, sawdust or litter. Rabbits and guinea pigs can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to their hair/dander; additionally their allergens often remain airborne for an extended period of time spreading them passively into areas that don’t even belong to these pets!
Avoiding pets altogether may be ideal, but that may not always be possible. Allergists can offer assistance through antihistamines and corticosteroids as well as shots or drops designed to gradually desensitize you to pet dander.
An allergist might perform a skin test to detect allergies. After applying small amounts of suspected allergens on the inside of your forearm, they will wait a few minutes and rub it against it to assess any allergic response. Blood (RAST) tests are also sometimes utilized when skin testing isn’t feasible.
Mold
Molds produce spores that circulate in the air and when inhaled by susceptible people can trigger allergies. Spores mistaken for foreign invaders by the immune system cause antibodies to form against it; when antibodies meet up with one of these spores they trigger symptoms including sneezing, watery eyes, runny or blocked nose, itchy throat or nose as well as itching in nose or throat area. Mold spores may also lead to asthma in certain individuals – particularly children; specifically Aspergillus fumigatus has been linked with fungal asthma which is an asthma that features both symptoms of an allergy as well as irritation of sorts.
Allergies to mold spores may appear alone or in combination with other allergens, including dust mites, pollen or animal dander. A person may even develop an allergy to one form of mold and then react adversely to another form of it found in food, such as the fungus found in contaminated spinach (Alternaria-spinach syndrome).
Doctors typically diagnose allergies by reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical exam, often followed by skin or blood tests to confirm their diagnosis. When diagnosed with mold allergies, over-the-counter medicines like antihistamines and decongestants may help alleviate symptoms; if this proves ineffective, your physician can prescribe stronger medicine or immunotherapy (injections of synthetic substances that stimulate immune systems) may be administered instead.
Asthma
These allergens that cause seasonal allergies – like runny noses, sneezing and watery eyes – may also trigger asthma symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath that interfere with physical activities and lead to missed school days or workdays. Individuals living with asthma are usually sensitive to air pollutants, pet dander and mold spores that have an effect on them.
If your child has wheezing or shortness of breath, it is crucial that they visit a physician immediately. A physician can help diagnose asthmatic symptoms and devise ways of relieving their symptoms. Asthma can be caused by viral infections like influenza or pneumonia or exposure to allergens like mold and dust mites in their environment.
If a child’s allergies are aggravating their asthma symptoms, an inhaler may be needed to control symptoms. Your pediatrician will be able to recommend an effective inhaler that fits with how often and for how long your child needs it. They will also recommend filters for your furnace and ducts which will keep the air clean in your home; in addition they can give a list of common allergy and asthma triggers to avoid in order to protect future episodes and reduce economic costs associated with adverse reactions caused by allergies.
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