Many people experience seasonal allergies caused by pollen (tree, grass and ragweed) and mold spores. Allergies triggered by these allergens tend to flare at certain times of year and often manifest in hay fever symptoms.
Medication and changes to your cleaning routine may help alleviate allergy symptoms. Furthermore, testing is available to identify the source of an allergy.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic insects that thrive in warm, humid environments like bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture and carpeting. Their main source of food is shed human skin cells which they feed upon in turn leading to allergic reactions in some individuals; symptoms of such reactions could include runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes and throat; these reactions do not usually cause fever nor thick mucus production and thus they are usually not contagious.
Common indoor allergens include pet dander, mold and cockroach parts – typically caused by airborne particles or damp areas where mold, roaches and other insects thrive.
Regular cleaning and proper maintenance can be key to controlling indoor allergens. Washing linens in hot water (130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit), vacuuming carpeted floors regularly with a double-layered microfilter bag or HEPA filter vacuum, replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with bare flooring or using an air conditioner can all help decrease allergen levels in the environment. Fabric curtains should also be replaced by synthetic materials and wool blankets should not become breeding grounds for dust mites; air conditioning helps decrease humidity levels as well.
People with allergies should ensure they wear a mask when vacuuming, sweeping or mopping to protect their breathing from allergens and reduce dusty environments. Dehumidifiers should also be utilized in basements and bathrooms in order to combat mold growth.
Pets
Animals are another common source of indoor allergies. People can be sensitive to proteins found in pet dander, saliva or urine that cause runny noses, watery eyes, itchy nose or throats, sneezing fits and shortness of breath symptoms. Even without pets of your own, exposure may come through friends or relatives’ animals or visiting places with them present (like school classrooms).
To correctly diagnose a pet allergy, your physician will conduct a detailed personal and family health history analysis and perform a physical exam focusing on your eyes, nose and throat. They may also take blood samples in order to test for antibodies specific to specific animal species.
Antihistamines may provide the ideal treatment for pet allergies, by blocking release of substances which cause symptoms. Your doctor may suggest them in addition to eliminating allergens altogether.
To reduce exposure to pet dander, have someone without pet allergies regularly clean the house using a vacuum with HEPA filter, washing or replacing upholstery regularly due to cleaning not removing all allergens from fabric, and bathing and grooming your pets regularly to help limit how much dander they shed.
Mold
Molds are microscopic fungi that thrive in warm, damp environments. Their spores spread by air and can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, including sneezing, itchy nose or eyes, runny nose and coughing. Some types of mold produce mycotoxins – poisonous chemicals that affect skin, eyes, lungs and organs; usually only an issue in immune-compromised people such as those living with HIV/AIDS or chronic lung disease/cancer.
Allergic reactions to mold can be brought on by many factors, including age and family history of allergies or asthma. Being allergic to pollen or animal dander increases your likelihood of being exposed to molds; other risk factors include working in industries where exposure to it is common (farming, dairy work or logging for instance) or living in humid areas with high humidity levels.
Make an appointment with your physician and discuss your symptoms; they should take your medical history, perform a physical exam and conduct a skin test – this involves placing small extracts of various kinds of mold on your skin before using a needle to prick it; if you are allergic, red, raised areas will develop where the needle touched it; blood tests can also provide information regarding possible mold allergies by testing for specific antibodies.
Other Allergens
Other substances, including pet dander, house dust and certain chemicals can trigger allergy symptoms in people. This varies based on both the allergen and affected individual; symptoms could include itchy eyes and nose, runny nose or coughing. While allergies typically aren’t as dangerous as colds or flus, they may still significantly disrupt daily activities more than an everyday cough or runny nose.
Indoor allergies can be caused by various substances, including animal dander, pollen and molds. They may also be activated by environmental changes such as welcoming a new pet into your home, water damage repairs in an apartment building or home, high humidity levels or remodeling activities.
One of the most widespread and destructive allergies is nonseasonal hay fever (also referred to as perennial allergic rhinitis), caused by dust mites, cockroach parts, molds or animal dander.
Doctors typically recommend skin tests or antibody testing as methods of diagnosing and treating allergic reactions to various substances, usually within 15-20 minutes. A skin test involves placing small amounts of the substance directly onto your skin before scratching or pricking to induce an allergic response; while antibody testing involves injecting tiny doses under your skin similar to what TB tests require.
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