Common Allergens

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Common Allergens


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Objectives

• Identify common allergens
• Understand the relationship of allergens to
  symptoms
• Differentiate seasonal and perennial allergies

• Understand avoidance of exposure as primary
  intervention

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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.

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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

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Seasonal Allergies

• Most common of all allergic diseases
• World wide prevalence 2-20
• Maximum prevalence 2nd decade in June July

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Pollen seasons
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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.
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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

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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. 

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Food Allergies

• Predominant age All ages, but more common in
  infants and children
• Predominant sex Male gt Female (21)

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Introduction to Selling
High Efficiency Duct Mount Air Cleaners
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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 Mite
dust, dust mites pollen pet dander mold
spores, fungi, bacteria, viruses tobacco
smoke cooking smoke grease
Pollen
Bacteria
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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.
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Face masks
OMeara et al, Lancet 1998 351, May 16 1488-89
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The End