We talk a lot about outdoor air allergens and pollution and rarely about indoor air. But indoor air is the reason behind many diseases.
What are indoor allergies in India?
Indoor allergens cause indoor allergies.
House dust mites, pet dander, insects, molds, and volatile organic compounds are common indoor allergens. They are found in beds, mattresses, pillows, carpets, and furniture stuffing. They have also been found in the office and school environments. [1,2,4]
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Allergy Facts you must know:
Dust mites, pets, cockroaches, pollens and fungal molds are a significant cause of acute asthma in adults below fifty.
Allergy to house dust mites makes childhood asthma four to six times more likely.[1]
25% of cases of childhood asthma are related to indoor allergens.[2]Bronchial asthma is related to allergic Rhinitis in many cases.
Molds or fungus (like Aspergillus) can cause allergic fungal rhinosinusitis but may also cause fungal pneumonia. If it’s damp and dark, it’s a problem.
In a study of Delhi homes, 68 different types of molds were found. Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Penicillium made up 88.6% of the total colonies. The mold problem was most severe in the autumn and winter months. Aspergillus (>40% )were commonest, followed by Cladosporium.[3]
Airway allergies present as allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Even if you don’t go out, you are still exposed to these allergens . Dust accumulates everywhere, on surfaces, in air vents, over furnishings, nooks and crannies. It’s an invisible layer that causes visible discomfort. There’s simply no escape if you are not aware.
6 Things you can do to manage Allergies and live life well:
1)You can wear a mask and gloves during house cleaning.
2)Avoid forceful dry dusting and use a vacuum cleaner. This prevents the allergens from being airborne.
3) Keep your bed sheets and blankets clean. Wash them in hot soapy water, and air-drying them in the direct sun, gets rid of mites.
4) Cleaning of fans, lights, AC filters, furniture surfaces, carpets, rugs, soft toys should be done regularly.These are dust mites’ favorite places to hide in, and if they are machine washable, you are better off. Closed air circulation can make it a hotbed of germs if not regularly cleaned.
5) Damp is a significant cause of concern. The kitchen and bath surfaces should be kept dry to avoid molds.
6) Pet hair and dander allergy are best fought by avoidance. If you are a pet lover, this needs careful thought. Pet hair shedding can cause severe allergic reactions. Avoid having pets on your bed, sofa, and places where you are in close contact.
If you have a pet, bathe them regularly, so dander and other allergens are removed from their body. If you are particularly allergic, change your clothes and take a bath before bed every time you interact with your pet. But this is not a fool-proof plan [5]
Takeaway:
Allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction and gets worse with repeated exposure. Avoidance of allergens and monitored medication can go a long way to manage allergies on a lifelong basis.
Know more about allergies and their management here.
Are you allergic? What precautions do you take?Let me know in the comments below
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Brand Disclaimer:
The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased views of solely the blogger. This is a part of the public awareness initiative supported by Sanofi India. Sanofi India bears no responsibility for the content of the blog. One should consult their healthcare provider for any health-related information.
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Reference
1 Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Health Effects of Indoor Allergens; Pope AM, Patterson R, Burge H, editors. Indoor Allergens: Assessing and Controlling Adverse Health Effects. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1993. 1, Introduction. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236033/
2 Carrer P, Maroni M, Alcini D, Cavallo D. Allergens in indoor air: environmental assessment and health effects. Sci Total Environ. 2001;270(1-3):33-42. doi:10.1016/s0048-9697(00)00791-9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11327396/
3 Indoor Fungal Concentration in the Homes of allergic/asthmatic Children in Delhi, India
Rashmi Sharma et al. Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2011 Jan.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22852111/
4 Poole JA, Barnes CS, Demain JG, et al. Impact of weather and climate change with indoor and outdoor air quality in asthma: A Work Group Report of the AMAIA Environmental Exposure and Respiratory Health Committee. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2019;143(5):1702-1710. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.02.018
5 Indoor Allergens and Allergic Respiratory Disease
Anna Pomés, Martin D. Chapman, and Sabina Wünschmann
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4976688/
