Food Allergy or Airborne Allergy: A Guide to Understanding Common Allergies

Allergies are a common cause of feeling sick, triggered when the body's immune system comes into contact with harmful substances. There are various types of allergies, but this guide will focus on two broad categories: food allergies and airborne allergies. Understanding the differences between these allergies is crucial for proper diagnosis and management.

Food Allergies

Food allergies occur when the immune system responds to ingested food by producing antibodies to combat the allergen. It is essential to distinguish food allergies from food intolerance, which is a reaction caused by the body's inability to digest certain foods properly. Common food allergens include milk, nuts, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, crustaceans, and food additives and preservatives (such as sulfites).

Airborne Allergies

Airborne allergies stem from substances found in the air and include mold allergy, dust mite allergy, pet allergy, and pollen allergy.

Mold Allergy - If you are allergic to mold, breathing in mold spores causes your immune system to overreact. You will experience symptoms such as coughing, itchy eyes or other discomforts. A mold allergy can also be linked to asthma in some individuals. Mold thrives in moist, damp areas in your home. To prevent mold growth, it is essential to eliminate dampness and moisture from surfaces and the air. You can achieve this by using a dehumidifier to get rid of excess humidity, cleaning up wet spots caused by leaky pipes, water seepage during rainstorms, and flood damage, and ensuring adequate ventilation to keep your house in ideal humidity level of between 40%-60% RH.

Dust Mite Allergy - Dust mites live in household dust and are close relatives of ticks and spiders, but they are too small to be seen without a microscope. Symptoms of dust mite allergy include sneezing, a runny nose, asthmatic wheezing, and breathing difficulties. It is not the dust mites themselves that cause the allergy but the feces and decaying bodies of the mites. Similar to mold, dust mites thrive in warm, humid surroundings, especially in bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpeting. To control dust mites, keep the humidity in your home low, and regularly vacuum and steam clean, especially in the bedroom.

Pet Allergy - One of the most common types of indoor allergies is pet allergy. Pet dander, the dead flakes of skin shed by dogs and cats daily, is the primary culprit for these unpleasant symptoms. Pets also produce allergens from their saliva, glands, urine, and feces, which can remain suspended in the air for long periods and easily stick to furniture, bedding, and fabrics. Rodent pets such as hamsters, gerbils, mice, and guinea pigs can also create allergens. Fish or reptiles, on the other hand, are less likely to cause allergies.

Pollen Allergy - Common worldwide, pollen allergy results from pollen spores released by plants during their blossoming period. Airborne allergy symptoms include itchiness in the nose, eyes, and throat, sneezing, a stuffy or runny nose, coughing, shortness of breath, and asthma-like symptoms.

Treatment and Prevention

The primary approach to managing allergies is to avoid contact with allergens. For food allergies, carefully check ingredient labels and eliminate trigger foods from your diet.