Allergies don’t only manifest outside; they can also arise inside your home from allergens like pet dander, mold spores and dust mites that cause itchy eyes, runny nose and nasal congestion.
Keep a record of your symptoms to help identify possible allergens. An allergist/immunologist can conduct skin testing with various allergens to ascertain which ones you might be sensitive to.
Pet Allergies
If your child’s year-round indoor allergies include nasal congestion, runny nose and itchy eyes, they could be due to pet allergens. Just like mold and dust mites, pet allergens are microscopic particles which attach themselves to kids’ skin or hair before entering their lungs when breathing in air.
Pet dander is the primary culprit when it comes to allergic reactions from pets, consisting of hair, saliva, and dead skin cells from an animal’s coat. Cats and dogs tend to cause the most reactions due to having long fur that collects dander through self-grooming or other activities; outdoor pollen can also trigger reactions in some individuals.
Allergies to cats and dogs typically affect the nose and eyes, though symptoms may also affect other parts of the body. Allergic reactions occur due to misinterpretation by your immune system of proteins found in animal proteins as harmful, leading your immune system to overreact with hypersensitivity over time to any allergen that comes its way.
Pet allergies are hard to manage for children. Avoiding contact with animals is the ideal way to minimize symptoms; if this is not possible, keep pets away from bedrooms and other places where children sleep or spend most of their time. Be sure to wipe down pet bedding regularly in order to remove saliva and dander build-up.
Mold Allergies
Mold allergies occur when our immune systems overreact to fungus spores, leading to runny nose, itchy eyes and coughing as symptoms. Fungi can often be found in damp environments like basements and bathrooms as well as compost piles, logs or leaves, grasses or grains rotting away; usually inactive during winter but indoor mold growth continues all year.
Children from families with allergies and breathing conditions such as asthma are at increased risk of mold allergy. Other risk factors may include having an immune system compromised due to illness or medication and living in humid climates.
If your child’s allergic reactions to mold spores cannot be managed through over-the-counter medicines, consulting an allergist is recommended. Doctors will create a list of potential allergens and perform an exam of eyes, ears, nose, lungs and skin prick tests with small amounts of mold spores being pricked into skin in a skin prick test; reactions could range from mild itching or skin rashes which will allow doctors to accurately assess whether you’re sensitive.
Immunotherapy shots may be recommended to individuals suffering from severe mold allergies. Immunotherapy involves injecting tiny doses of allergens that you are sensitive to into your system on an ongoing basis to build up natural protection from them.
Dust Allergies
Dust allergies can be very irritating, often resulting in sneezing and runny eyes. This common allergy is caused by microscopic mites living on household fabrics such as pillows, mattresses, upholstered furniture, blankets, rugs and stuffed animals; they thrive in warm humid areas where they quickly multiply; their presence peaking during summer but they may still exist year-round.
Dust allergens cause the immune system to overreact, producing symptoms such as itching, sneezing and watery eyes in those sensitive. They may even trigger asthma attacks or flare-ups for those suffering from allergies.
Household dust contains numerous components, from fibers shed from various fabrics, food particles, plant and insect parts, mold and fungus spores and pet dander to pet dander and feathers – with dust mite waste products acting as allergens, which may cause allergic reactions in sensitive people.
Avoiding allergens that cause allergies is the first step toward managing them, including taking steps such as removing wall-to-wall carpeting from bedrooms, using “miteproof” mattress covers, and washing sheets, blankets and pillowcases frequently in hot water. Antihistamines like Fexofenadine (Allegra Allergy), Loratadine (Claritin/Claritin) and Cetirizine (Zyrtec) may help relieve itching and sneezing while other medications such as decongestant nose drops/ sprays/pills as sublingual immunotherapy/SLIT allergy shot can slowly build tolerance to allergens over time.
Smoke Allergies
Though people commonly report allergy-like reactions when breathing in smoke, doctors believe these aren’t actually allergies; rather, smoke contains many toxic chemicals which irritate and potentially toxicate lungs.
Smoke can irritate nasal passages and thin the mucus lining, allowing allergens such as pet dander, mold and pollen more freely into your system. This may trigger or exacerbate allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma and sinusitis symptoms.
Long-term exposure to tobacco or secondhand smoke may worsen allergic rhinitis symptoms, likely due to irritation that weakens your immune system and increases sensitivity for other allergens, making them more likely to trigger reactions in your system.
Smoke exposure can also trigger contact dermatitis, which results in itchy red patches on hands and faces when exposed to tobacco or tobacco products. Antihistamines can effectively address this condition. Nicotine-related lips or cheek rubbed against cigarettes; touching chewing tobacco; inhaling smoke from candles, fireplaces or other non-cigarette sources of smoke all can trigger it; however, treatment options exist such as antihistamines. Avoid all types of smoking and keep hands away from mouth, throat and nose. Immunotherapy may help desensitize an individual’s immune system to smoke allergens, decreasing their likelihood of allergic reaction. Sublingual immunotherapy offers excellent therapy options for adults and children suffering from allergies alike.
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