Adult Indoor Allergy Causes, Symptoms, and Relief
Make indoors more comfortable by reducing allergy triggers
There’s no place like home … for allergies! Just stepping indoors — at home, work, or school — exposes you to numerous allergens.1 An allergen is any substance which produces an allergic reaction.2 Millions of people suffer year-round because of indoor allergens.3 These culprits include dust mite droppings, animal dander, cockroach droppings and molds.3 So basically, You can control indoor allergens with cleaning and reducing allergens in your home.2
Signs and symptoms of indoor allergies
An allergic reaction is the result of your immune system going on the defensive. When it detects an allergen, it produces antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). In response, your cells release chemicals to fight the allergens, which result in your allergy symptoms.3
The most typical symptoms of indoor allergies include:3
Runny nose or itchiness in your nose.
Itchy mouth, throat, ears and eyes
Sneezing.
Stuffiness.
Here’s where most indoor allergens hide:2
Damp and Bedding.
Indoor plants
Pets
Pillows and bedding you can’t wash it in hot water
Soft furniture
Stuffed toys
Mattresses that aren’t in allergy covers.
Wall-to-wall carpet.
The most common indoor allergy triggers — and what to do about them
Dust mites
More than 95 % of the allergen accumulating in mite cultures is associated with fecal particles.4
How to control dust mites:2
Keep surfaces clean and uncluttered.
Avoid wall-to-wall carpet — use low-pile carpets, washable rugs, hardwood, linoleum, or tile.
Avoid heavy drapes.
Avoid overstuffed furniture.
Use sealed, allergen-resistant covers on your pillows and mattress.
Wash bedding, pillows, and stuffed toys in water that’s at least 130°F; dry them in a hot dryer.
Indoor mold
The common indoor mold and mildew that cause allergies thrive in dampness. You’ll find them in moist basements, bathrooms, or anywhere with leaks.2
How to reduce mold:
Reduce moisture in the bathroom, kitchen, and other areas where there is a lot of water.2
Don’t run your showers for a long time before bathing.2
Use dehumidifiers.2
Limit yourself to a few house plants.2
Fix all leaks and other causes of damp areas.2
Remove mold from hard surfaces with water and detergent or, if necessary, 5% bleach; let them dry completely.3
Pet dander
There are no breeds of dogs or cats that are 100% allergen-free — not even the hairless ones. That’s because you don’t react to fur, but to allergens in saliva, dander (skin flakes), or urine.3
How to manage pet dander:
Try to minimize contact with pets.3
Keep pets out of your bedroom.2
Wash and change pet beds and toys often.2
Bathe and brush your pets often and wear a mask when you groom them.2
As with dust mites, vacuum carpets often or replace carpet with a hardwood floor, tile or linoleum.3
Before getting a pet, ask your allergist to determine if you are allergic to animals.3
Cockroaches
The World Health Organization identifies 12 distinct allergens carried by cockroaches.4
How to control cockroaches:
Do not leave food or garbage uncovered.2
Use poison baits, boric acid, and traps instead of chemicals, which may irritate your sinuses and/or asthma.2
Block crevices, wall cracks, and windows where they enter.3
Fix and seal leaks.3
Keep food in lidded containers.3
Put pet food dishes away after your pets are done eating.3
Vacuum and sweep after meals.3
Wash dishes immediately after use.3
Clean under stoves, refrigerators, or toasters where crumbs can accumulate.3
Wipe off the stove, cupboards, and other kitchen surfaces regularly.3
A couple extra tips to minimize indoor allergens
It’s nearly impossible to completely avoid indoor allergens. But there are ways to reduce them.
- Keep the air as clean as possible:
Telfast® is here to help fight indoor allergies symptoms.5
Telfast® helps you live better life by relieving many common indoor allergy symptoms. If you experience sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes or an itchy nose or throat, Telfast® can help.⁵
And if you also have nasal congestion, or swelling of nasal passages, check out Telfast-Decongestant®.7
Now you can feel more at home.
Telfast® is non sedating⁵, the allergist-recommended Over the Counter (OTC) oral second generation/ less sedating antihistamines for patients with AR and primary complaints of sneezing and itching. OTC oral antihistamines for the adults..6
Recommended Reading
Pet Allergies
Allergies to pets with fur are common. It's often difficult or impossible to eliminate completely your exposure to animal allergens.
Mold Allergies
Mold and mildew are fungi that lives everywhere. So if you have persistent allergicsymptoms that occur through several seasons, you might be allergic to mold.
Dust Allergies
Dust mites are tiny organisms that can barely be seen by the naked eye. A dust mite allergy can even trigger asthma and eczema.
Seasonal Allergies
Allergy season is different for everyone. That’s because different kinds of outdoor allergens — or irritants — get distributed into the air year-round.
Pollution Allergy
Air pollution is the fourth greatest threat to public health after cancer, heart disease and obesity.
Temperature change
Individuals with persistent allergic rhinitis are more prone to develop respiratory and ocular symptoms after exposure to sudden temperature changes.
Allergies vs Cold: Understand the Difference
Seasonal allergies and the common cold can be so much alike that it's sometimes hard to tell the two apart. But look closely and you can find clues about what's going on.
Hives and skin allergies
Hives (urticaria) are red, itchy welts that result from a skin reaction. The welts vary in size and appear and fade repeatedly as the reaction runs its course
Allergies
Allergic Rhinitis or Hay Fever, Happens when you breath in something to which you are allergic, and the inside of your nose becomes inflamed and swollen
Children's Outdoor Allergies
Nearly 5.2 million children under age 18 experience hay fever in the past 12 months and 7.1 million have respiratory allergies
Children's Indoor Allergies
For kids dealing with indoor allergies, Some pollutants may be 2–5-fold more concentrated inside than outside buildings.
1. Indoor environment, Available at: https://www.erswhitebook.org/files/public/Chapters/10_indoor_environment.pdf ;last accessed:30/3/2022.
2. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Control indoor allergy, Available at: https://www.aafa.org/control-indoor-allergens/; last accessed:30/3/2022.
3. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Indoor Allergens, Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/conditions-library/allergies/indoor-allergens-ttr ; last accessed:30/3/2022.
4. Pomés A, Chapman MD, Wünschmann S. Indoor allergens and allergic respiratory disease. Current allergy and asthma reports. 2016 Jun;16(6):1-0.
5. Ministry of Health, Telfast approved leaflet, approval date 29/11/2018.
6. Seidman MD, Gurgel RK, Lin SY, et al. Clinical practice guideline: allergic rhinitis. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2015 Feb;152(1_suppl):S1-43.
7. Ministry of Health, Telfast Decongestant approved leaflet, approval date 9/6/2019.
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