Common Allergens

Objectives Identify common allergens Understand the relationship of allergens to symptoms Differentiate seasonal and perennial allergies Understand avoidance of exposure as primary intervention

Allergen Allergen /al'rjin/, a foreign substance that can cause an allergic response in the body but is only harmful to some people. Some common allergens (also called antigens) are pollen, animal dander, house dust, feathers, and varied foods.

Common Allergens Dust mites- year round Tree pollens-Apr-June Grass/weed pollen-June-August Mold spores- July-September Domestic pets- animal dander - year round Rhus dermatitis Food allergies

Seasonal Allergies Most common of all allergic diseases World wide prevalence – 2-20% Maximum prevalence – 2 nd decade in June & July

Pollen seasons

From May to late August, grasses pollinate in the area including orchard, redtop, fescue, and timothy. Other allergy-causing grasses in the region include vernal grass and Bermuda grass. From August to October, weeds such as ragweed, plantain, and nettle pollinate in this region. Other weeds that can trigger allergies include the lamb's-quarter, cocklebur, pigweed, and Mexican fire bush.

Perennial Allergies Symptoms – 50% of sufferers experience sneezing and watery rhinorrhea, the other 50% experience mostly nasal congestion Rarely do symptoms affect the eyes and throat Major allergen – dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (fecal matter from the dust mite) Next most common allergens come from domestic pets and molds

Dust Mites One of the most highly allergenic contaminants found indoors is house dust, often heavily contaminated with the fecal pellets and skins of house dust mites. Estimates are that dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80 % of asthmatics, as well as in countless cases of eczema, hay fever, and other allergic ailments.

Dust Mites A typical mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites inside Their favorite food is dander (human skin flakes), also, bedroom carpeting and household upholstery support high mite populations Very small size (250 to 300 microns in length) and translucent bodies, are not visible to the unaided eye An exposure to the mites in the first year of a infants life can trigger a lifelong allergy

Mold Spores Many types of microorganisms produce spores. Spores serve a function for microbes similar to the role that seeds serve for plants. These spores are the way that this slime mold reproduces. The spores also help the microbe move around; They blow around on the winds, just as many types of seeds do, until they land and "take root" in a new environment.

Rhus Dermatitis rhus dermatitis, a skin rash resulting from contact with a plant of the genus Rhus, as poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac.

Poison Ivy Three-pointed leaves. It causes severe allergic reactions in many people. People who are extremely allergic to poison ivy may be given preventive treatment with a Rhus antigen after contact Careful washing of the exposed skin after suspected contact may prevent the reaction.

Poison Oak Poison oak, any of several species of shrub (Rhus). Skin contact results in allergic skin swellings in many people. Symptoms and treatment are like those for poison ivy.

Poison Sumac Poison sumac /s'mak/, a shrub (Rhus). Skin contact results in allergic reactions in many people. Symptoms and treatment are similar to those for poison ivy.

Food allergies Incidence/Prevalence : The incidence of IgE mediated food allergy has been estimated to range from 1-7% of the population In children up to 4 years of age the incidence is between 8-16% Only about 3-4% of children over 4 years of age have persisting food allergy. Therefore, it is frequently a transient phenomena

Food Allergies Predominant age: All ages, but more common in infants and children Predominant sex: Male > Female (2:1)

Food Allergies Most commonly implicated foods include. Cow's milk, Egg whites, Wheat, soy, Peanut, fish, Tree nuts (walnut and pecan), Shellfish, Melons, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, Chocolate. Several food dyes and additives can elicit allergic-like reactions.

Avoidance Control Measures – focus on "dust control". One must reduce the concentrations of dust borne allergens in the living environment –Keep the house clean Dust mites, pollens,animal dander, and the allergy causing agents can be reduced, although not eliminated through regular cleaning

Avoidance Control Measures (cont.)  Use a good vacuum. Most vacuums actually cause the problem to worsen because the filter bags in most models are not efficient and cause allergen levels to rise.  Keep humidity levels below 60 percent. Dust mites as well as other allergens thrive on high humidity. Homes with air conditioning constantly have lower mite counts then non- air conditioned homes.

Avoidance Control Measures (cont.) –Use a good air filter. Most store bought air filters an not capable of trapping mites and their by- products. One should also look for a filter that has anti-microbial properties, to prevent the filter from becoming a breeding ground for allergens. Filters that call themselves "washable" should be avoided because it just is not possible to wash 100% of the biological contaminants out of them and they will also become a breeding ground.Use a good air filter.

High Efficiency Duct Mount Air Cleaners Introduction to Selling

What Air Cleaners Can Do Goodman High Efficiency Electronic Air Cleaners remove particles down to.01 micron (1/2,540,000 of an inch) including… * dust, dust mites * pollen * pet dander * mold spores, fungi, bacteria, viruses * tobacco smoke * cooking smoke & grease Pollen Dust Mite Bacteria

What Air Cleaners Can Do Benefits... * Relieve allergy / asthma suffering. * Prevent damaging black dust from staining walls, upholstery and window coverings. * Protect computers / electronic equipment. * Protect / prolong operating efficiency of HVAC equipment. * Eliminate unpleasant odors. * Provide a healthier, more comfortable environment, year-round.

Face masks O´Meara et al, Lancet 1998; 351, May 16:

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