The inhaled allergens or pneumallergens or aero-allergens can be divided into two major categories: domestic allergens and atmospheric allergens. The pneumallergens are generally responsible for respiratory allergies (asthma, allergic rhinitis, etc.).
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Allergens > Airborne
Airborne allergens
Domestic allergens
They consist of the allergens found in the patient’s
environment. It is possible to distinguish:
1- Acarians:
These anthropodes form the major part of the allergens found in household dust. Several families of acarians participate, among them Dermatophagoïdes pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoïdes farinae and Euroglyphus maynei. Lepidoglyphus destructor and Blomia tropicalis are also found although they are mainly but not only found in tropical and subtropical regions. Acarians mainly lodge in mattresses, box springs, broadloom, upholstered furniture, stuffed animals, etc.
It is important to note that the allergens are not the acarians but their digestive enzymes mainly found in their faecal wads whose size is comparable to a grain of pollen. 100 acarians per gram of household dust (or 2 milligrams of allergen per gram of dust) in a mattress is enough to sensitise an infant.
The prevalence of sensitisation to acarians is higher in damp regions than in drug regions.
2- Cockroaches:
These anthropodes produce allergens to which 5 to 22 % of the population is sensitive. Their favourite place is food pantries and garbage shafts. They are more easily but not only found in underprivileged zones.
1- Acarians:
These anthropodes form the major part of the allergens found in household dust. Several families of acarians participate, among them Dermatophagoïdes pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoïdes farinae and Euroglyphus maynei. Lepidoglyphus destructor and Blomia tropicalis are also found although they are mainly but not only found in tropical and subtropical regions. Acarians mainly lodge in mattresses, box springs, broadloom, upholstered furniture, stuffed animals, etc.
It is important to note that the allergens are not the acarians but their digestive enzymes mainly found in their faecal wads whose size is comparable to a grain of pollen. 100 acarians per gram of household dust (or 2 milligrams of allergen per gram of dust) in a mattress is enough to sensitise an infant.
The prevalence of sensitisation to acarians is higher in damp regions than in drug regions.
2- Cockroaches:
These anthropodes produce allergens to which 5 to 22 % of the population is sensitive. Their favourite place is food pantries and garbage shafts. They are more easily but not only found in underprivileged zones.
Domestic animals
Their squama, integuments and secretions contain allergens able to induce powerful allergic reactions. The main culprits are cats and dogs.
1- Cats and dogs:
Feline allergens are found in the sebaceous glands, saliva and
the peri-anal glands. The main reservoir of this allergen is
the cat’s fur. It is also found, although to a lesser degree,
inmattresses, upholstered furniture and household dust. 2 to 30 %
of the general population is sensitive to cat allergens.
2- Rodents (mice,
rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, etc.):
Their increasing popularity as household pets has increased the
incidence of these allergies that initially were only professional
allergies (laboratory staff).
3- Horses:
The allergens found in the skin, fur, sweat and urine of horses may
provoke major allergic reactions in sensitive subjects.
Moulds
Found inside homes, moulds produce allergen-bearing spores. They are found near ventilation or air conditioning ducts, around water pipes (bathrooms), on green plants, on plant and animal wastes, in the dust of mattresses and stuffed animals.
Atmospheric allergens
Atmospheric allergens mainly consist of pollen. The type, number and density of the pollen varies according to the temperature, climate and geographic region. This accounts for the seasonal nature and variability of the allergies that they provoke. Among the most allergising pollens, we can distinguish:
- Pollen from Graminaceae: oats, couch-grass, tares, rye, sorghum, etc.
- Pollen from Herbaceous plants: ambrosia, sunflower, plane, sagebrush, pellitory.
- Pollen from trees: birch, cypress, ash, chestnut, olive, plane, alder.
Atmospheric moulds
The main atmospheric moulds are represented by Cladosporium and Alternaria that present a peak in the summer and by Aspergillus and Penicillium that do not have a defined season.
Pollutants
1- Smoke from
tobacco:
This is the main household pollutant. It deteriorates the
quality of the air breathed and helps exacerbate the symptoms of
asthma. It increases the level of serum IgE. Passive
smoking increases the incidence and severity of asthma in the
infant and in the child.
2- Atmospheric
pollutants:
Ozone, SO2, nitrogen oxide and particles in suspension (diesel).
See also Pollen Allergy in Europe.