Environmental Allergies

Are You Protecting Your Child Too Much?

Hygiene hypothesis is an assumption that indicates that a lack of early childhood exposure to infectious agents or bacteria increases the child's susceptibility to allergies and other illnesses by suppressing the natural development of the immune system.

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Common Environmental Allergens

• Dust Mites: Tiny bugs found in mattresses, furniture, and carpets.

• Pollen: Produced by trees, grass, and weeds that travel through the air and are inhaled. Usually cause seasonal allergy symptoms and often trigger asthma. 

• Pets: Allergic reactions to pets are caused by the animal's dander, which means that short-haired pets are just as likely to cause a reaction as long-haired pets.

• Mold: Thrive in damp areas (e.g. basements, bathrooms, air conditioners, humidifiers, etc.), often grow on wallboards, wood, and even fabric. 

• Cockroaches: Cockroach droppings can trigger allergies and asthma. 

• Irritants: Smoke (cigarettes, wood burning stoves/fireplaces), odors (perfume, hairspray, paint, air fresheners), cleaning products (detergents), chlorine (pools).

• Insect Stings: wasps, hornets, bees, etc. 

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Signs & Symptoms

• Sneezing

• Stuffy/runny nose

• Coughing

• Skin rash

• Hives

• Difficulty breathing

• Eczema: Skin condition often related to an allergic response. Certain types of soaps, detergents and skin care products can make eczema worse. It is not contagious and is often related to genetics. Symptoms include:

  • Dry skin that cracks and bleeds.

  • Red rash or patches of skin.

  • Itchiness.

  • Often appears inside the folds of elbows and knees, as well as on the face and eyelids.

 

Treatments

• Decongestants and antihistamines are the most common allergy medications (reduce itchiness, stuffy/runny nose, sneezing).

• Topical steroid creams and ointments (rashes, eczema).

• Immunotherapy:

  • Allergy shots (SCIT: subcutaneous immunotherapy) are the most common form of allergy immunotherapy that help treat reactions to many allergens and prevent new allergies from developing.

  • There is also a newer form of immunotherapy known as sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) where instead of injecting the allergen under the skin, doses are administered under the tongue in a tablet or drop form. 

• Consult your doctor or an allergist for treatment options.

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Being exposed to allergens during times when the body's immune system is weak, for example after an illness, or during pregnancy can also play a role in triggering allergies. 

 

Allergies or Asthma?

Take the Asthma and Allergy Symptom Test 

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