Q. What is an allergen?
A. An allergy is any substance that can trigger an allergic response. Although many allergens in your environment can trigger allergic symptoms, house dust is the main culprit in indoor allergies . Outdoor allergens , tiny particles of mold and pollen that, when inhaled, may cause allergic rhinitis (hay fever) symptoms.
Q. What is house dust?
A. House dust is an airborne mixture that might contain fine particles of soil and plant material from indoors or outdoors, particles of human and animal skin (dander) and hair, fabric fibers, mold spores, dust mites, fragments of insects that have died and their waste, food particles, and other debris.Q. What happens when a person comes in contact with allergens?
A. When an allergic person encounters an allergen, the immune system becomes activated. This triggers a complex chain of events, which produce symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of tissues, sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and other reactions.
Q. Who gets allergies?
A. Doctors do not fully understand why certain people get allergies while others do not. However, they do know that allergies can develop at any age, and heredity plays a key role.
Q. How do I find out more about allergies?
A. You will need to contact an allergist/immunologist. They will be able to perform tests to determine the source of your allergies.
Indoor Allergens / Outdoor Allergens
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