Allergic Reactions At Home

Allergic Reactions At Home Overview

Allergic reactions at home are common. The main indoor allergens are dust mites, mold, pet dander and cockroaches, which can cause year-round (perennial) allergy symptoms (ACAAI).

The symptoms of allergy (sneezing, a runny nose, etc.) occur when your body decides that certain chemicals called allergens are harmful to your body. Responding to allergens, some human bodies produce the defender chemicals called antibodies. Such allergic antibodies are actually Immunoglobin E (IgE) molecules. [1]

The antibodies travel to the part of body exposed to allergens and react there. This causes allergic symptoms to occur. Almost all the allergic conditions occur due to the same reason i.e. antibodies reacting to allergens.

The following is the detail of the types of allergic reactions that can occur in the home environment.

What Are The Different Allergens In Your Home?

Dust Mites

Dust Mites are tiny organisms that cannot be seen with naked eye. They cause allergic and asthma symptoms in many people.

Dust Mites are present everywhere in the house but they are concentrated in warm and humid places. Their common habitats in the house include beds, carpets, and upholstered furniture.

Pets (Fur)

People are not allergic to pet hair, but can be allergic to the allergens in dander, saliva, urine or fur.

Cockroaches

While cockroaches are irritating, they can be allergic to many people. Cockroaches contain a protein that acts as an allergen. Their feces, saliva, and shedding body parts contain that protein, causing allergy when exposed to.

Mold

When a person is allergic to such fungi, his/her immune system can be oversensitive to these allergens, and consequently the person will develop allergic symptoms.

What Are the Possible Reactions and Symptoms to Indoor Allergens?

• Dust mite allergy is due to the proteins in the debris (feces and decaying bodies) of dust mites. This allergy can either cause symptoms of nasal passage inflammation or asthma. The symptoms include itchy, red, or watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, difficulty in breathing, chest tightness, and other symptoms of asthma [2].
• Symptoms of pet-related allergy can appear instantly with short term exposure. Exposure for longer periods can cause chronic symptoms. In some people, symptoms may start growing and are at their highest after 8 to 12 hours of animal contact.
  Pet-related allergy symptoms are similar to those of dust mite allergy.
• Cockroach allergy shows similar symptoms with the inclusion of skin rashes, ear infections, and itchy skin, eyes, throat, or nose.
• Mold allergy causes the same symptoms that occur with other sorts of upper respiratory allergies. These include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, cough, itchy and watery eyes, itchy nose and throat, and dry, scaly skin.
  Mold allergy with asthma can cause shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness.

What Are the Triggers of Different Allergic Reactions At Home?

The causes of allergic reactions at home are similar at the microscopic level. All of them are caused by an overreaction to some protein molecule. The oversensitivity to the allergic protein molecule makes the release of antibodies possible. The antibodies go to the sites of allergen exposure and react with them, causing the symptoms to occur.

With most allergies, the allergen itself isn’t harmful; the symptoms come from your immune system overreacting to it.

Preventative Measures

There are a number of preventive measures [3] that you can follow to avoid indoor allergies.

• Bedroom: Use “mite-proof” covers for pillows, mattresses and box springs, and wash bedding often in hot water (at least 130°F) (ACAAI). Consider replacing carpet with hard flooring, which is easier to keep allergen-free. Keep windows closed during high pollen periods.
• Living Room: While exercising all the applicable measures described above, consider changing your upholstered sofas with leather exterior sofas so that the dust can be removed easily. Don’t use your living room for planting. Stop using wood-burning fireplaces and replace them with natural gas, as smoke from wood can worsen respiratory allergies.
• Kitchen: Clean the cabinets regularly and close the opened boxes. Use tools to close the crevices from where cockroaches can enter. Cockroaches depend on water so fix the taps and don’t let water stay open in the kitchen. Use traps to eradicate them. Put the garbage in an insect-proof can and empty the trash daily. Avoid mold growth in the refrigerator by wiping off the excess water.
• Bathroom and basement: Keep indoor humidity between 30% and 50%, use exhaust fans and a dehumidifier, and fix leaks to limit mold (ACAAI).
• Pets: Wash your hands after petting animals, keep pets out of the bedroom, and have a nonallergic person groom them, preferably outdoors (ACAAI).
• Don’t allow smoking at home.

Treatment for Allergic Reactions At Home

See a board-certified allergist to find out exactly what you’re allergic to. Treatment may include antihistamines, nasal sprays (nasal steroids are the most effective drug class for allergic rhinitis) or eye drops (ACAAI).

The doctor can ask you to take some tests for diagnosis including skin test, and blood test. During a skin test, a part of the skin is exposed to the allergen, and symptoms will show if you are allergic. Blood test for Immunoglobin E (sIgE) is to determine the concentration of IgE in the bloodstream which is an indication to if the person is allergic or not. A concentration more than the normal can mean a positive test for allergy.

Immunotherapy (allergy shots) can treat indoor allergies to dust mites, cockroaches, mold and pet dander. The dose is increased gradually so your immune system learns not to react (Mayo Clinic).

Indoor allergens rarely cause anaphylaxis, but if you have a history of severe allergic reactions, your doctor may prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector. Use it right away in a severe reaction and then get emergency care (MedlinePlus).

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Written by: Madiha Ather Hashmi (January 26, 2021)

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your symptoms and before starting, stopping, or combining any medicine.

What actually helps

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HEPA air purifier & filters

A portable HEPA purifier sized to the room can lower airborne particles such as pollen and dust; it only works if you replace filters on schedule. (EPA: Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home)

See the Levoit Core 300 on Amazon

Saline nasal rinse kit

Rinsing with saline can clear pollen from the nose; use distilled, sterile or boiled-then-cooled water, never plain tap water. (FDA: Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?)

See the NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit on Amazon

Dust-mite pillow & mattress covers

Allergists recommend zippered, allergen-proof encasings for pillows, mattresses and box springs, plus hot-water washing of bedding. (ACAAI: Dust Allergy)

See Hospitology zippered pillow encasements on Amazon

Indoor Allergy FAQs

What are the most common allergens at home?

Dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches and mold (ACAAI).

What humidity level helps prevent mold?

Keep indoor humidity between 30% and 50% (ACAAI).

How hot should I wash bedding for dust mites?

At least 130°F (ACAAI).

Can allergy shots help indoor allergies?

Yes, they can treat allergies to dust mites, cockroaches, mold and pet dander (Mayo Clinic).

Sources

Looking to learn more about allergy lifestyles? Find a full list of living with allergies resources here.