What is dust allergy?
While we often can see dust floating indoors and gathering on surfaces, it is not typically the dust to which people are allergic, but rather substances that are carried on the dust that cause hayfever symptoms and/or wheeze. Dust is a combination of many substances, including pet dander, fabric particles, and small dust mite particles, to name a few. While high levels of dust can lead to irritation of the nose and lungs without allergy, the most common allergens on dust are pet dander, cockroach particles, and house dust mites. Allergy to these specific triggers can be assessed by skin testing or blood testing. Allergy to these triggers that may make up part of dust in your home (every home is different) does not mean that you have a dirty home or need to brush up on your housekeeping. When a doctor speaks of being allergic to dust, he or she typically is referring to specific allergy to dust mite. Dust mite allergic individuals react to body proteins as well as proteins released by t
