Indoor Allergens

Indoor Allergens

Common Allergy Triggers Slideshow

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• What are allergens?
• What actually is house dust?
• What are dust mites?
• What conditions are most favorable to dust mites?
• How do dust mites cause allergic symptoms?
• Can cockroaches cause allergic symptoms?
• What about allergies to molds?
• What about allergies to pets?
• What about allergies to indoor pollens and houseplants?
• Indoor Allergens At A Glance
• Pictures of Common Allergy Triggers - Slideshow

What are allergens?

Allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people. Examples of allergens are pollen, foods, and mold.

Your living environment may contain a variety of animal and plant life, most of which can become a source for allergens, the triggers of allergic reactions. Pollens are the main cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis. However, if your nasal stuffiness, sneezing, watery eyes, and constant postnasal drip bother you year-round, then you most likely have nonseasonal hay fever, sometimes referred to as perennial allergic rhinitis. This condition is typically caused by indoor allergens such as dust mites, cockroach parts, mold, and animal dander.

Understanding the nature and location of indoor sources of allergy is fundamental. The key to managing allergies that are caused by indoor allergens involves reducing your level of exposure to them or avoiding them entirely if possible.

This article describes some of the most common sources of allergens found inside the home environment.

What actually is house dust?

House dust is a mixture of components that can cause allergies. House dust is composed of a number of natural substances, including dried food particles, mold spores, pollen, fabric fibers, animal dander, and insect parts, especially those of dust mites and cockroaches. As is the case with other allergens, these particles contain proteins that are small enough to become airborne and inhaled. The main culprits in house dust that cause allergy symptoms are dust-mite and cockroach particles.