Why are you allergic to dust? How does dust allergy manifest?

We are accustomed to complaining about air pollution and unfavorable environmental conditions in cities, but few of us know that the air in our apartments or offices is much more dangerous to health than outdoor air. According to studies, it is 8 times more toxic and 4 times dirtier than outdoor air.

According to WHO, about 40% of the world's inhabitants suffer from dust allergies, and in most cases, it is mites that cause the development of an allergic reaction. They cause sneezing, coughing, inflammation of the eyes, skin rash or, and in the absence of adequate treatment, they can cause the development of such a dangerous disease as. In this article, we'll walk you through the causes, main symptoms, and treatments for dust allergies.

Causes

Carpets collect a large amount of dust containing various allergens.

The immune system of some people can react sharply to contact with some specific substances - allergens. Such a response is aimed at getting rid of them as soon as possible. Dust allergy is the most common of all allergic reactions, and according to statistics, about 7 million people suffer from it in Russia.

The composition of house dust is not constant and largely depends on the place of residence and the habits of the inhabitants of the house. As a rule, the following components are found in it:

• mineral particles;
• scales of the epidermis and hair (human and pets);
• paper and textile fibers;
• particles of smoke and soot;
• mold spores;
• pollen;
• house dust mites and their waste products.

Another frequent component of house dust in rooms located near highways is rubber dust, which is formed during the friction of car tires. Such dust is heavy and can only appear on the inhabitants of floors I-III.

All of the above components of household dust can become allergens, but dust mites are the most common cause of an allergic reaction. They are always invisibly adjacent to us, and their size is only 100-300 microns. Saprophyte mites feed on dead parts of the epidermis, and a person “provides” them with about 2 kg of such food annually.

Each tick produces a huge amount of excrement - 200 times more than its own weight - and all this waste of their vital activity and the dead ticks themselves are in the air of the apartment along with ordinary dust. It is the waste of their vital activity that is the strongest allergen for many people.

Most of all, dust mites are concentrated in bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture. For example, in a mattress that has been used for more than 3 years, more than 2 million saprophyte mites can live. In addition to particles of our skin, they feed on feather fillers in old pillows or blankets. But mites are not limited to our bedrooms. Dust spreads to all corners of our house, and if you examine 1 g of dust from any corner of it under a microscope, you can find from 10 to 100 thousand dust mites in it.

Another bright allergen can be considered building dust. Contact with her is especially dangerous for infants and young children. It consists of various chemicals, concrete or cement, and you can stop their impact only by leaving the room in which the repair is being carried out. Contact with it can cause acute allergic reactions in the form of a runny nose, cough, lacrimation or rash. After the completion of the repair work, these symptoms disappear, but may reappear when contact with the allergen is resumed.

Allergy to dust does not develop instantly at the first contact with the allergen. First, the process of sensitization to the provocative agent occurs - the body identifies the allergen, generates antibodies to it (IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM), prepares to be sensitive to this particular provoking component. Only after this, a specific immune response to contact with the allergen occurs - the release of substances such as serotonin, histamine and heparin in response to its introduction. All these processes are accompanied by the appearance of allergy symptoms: runny nose, cough or skin rash.

Symptoms

Conventionally, the symptoms of dust allergy can be divided into mild and acute.

Mild symptoms

Sneezing and runny nose

When dust is inhaled, the body reacts to the introduction of allergens, and the person begins to sneeze. The patient may suffer from heavy, prolonged or continuous sneezing. The act of sneezing is a defensive reaction: in this way the body tries to get rid of the invading allergen.

Substances released in response to the introduction of an aggressive agent provoke inflammation of the membranes of the nasal cavity. They swell, and the person has nasal congestion. A runny nose is one of the early symptoms of a dust allergy, and other signs of an allergic reaction develop a little later.

Drainage of mucus along the back wall of the nasal cavity

With a copious discharge of mucus, it can accumulate in the back of the nasal cavity and drain into the throat. This post-nasal runoff can cause a sore throat and cough.

Cough

Breathing air that contains dust can cause a cough almost instantly. As a rule, it proceeds for a long time (several weeks or months), is accompanied by a runny nose or irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes and is expressed in prolonged attacks (2-3 minutes). With an allergy to dust, the cough is not accompanied by sputum and fever. It is annoying and does not bring relief after its completion.

Sore throat

If you are allergic to dust, accompanied by frequent sneezing, runny nose and cough, such a secondary symptom as a sore throat may appear. During sneezing and coughing, there is an increase in pressure on the tissues of the throat. In response to such an impact, they swell, and the patient has pain during deep breathing or swallowing.

Eye irritation

In response to such an allergen as dust, the mucous membrane of the eye and the conjunctiva can become inflamed. As a rule, signs of allergic conjunctivitis appear within 12-24 hours after exposure to dust:

• the skin of the eyelids and conjunctiva become swollen and redden;
• there are unpleasant sensations in the eye area in the form of itching, pain or burning;
• redness of the whites of the eyes;
• lacrimation;
• photophobia (in severe cases).

Usually, both eyes are inflamed with allergic conjunctivitis.

With secondary infection of the eyes, an opaque and viscous purulent discharge of a gray or yellowish color appears, which accumulates in the corner of the eye and can cause gluing of the eyelashes (especially after sleep). In the absence of adequate treatment, the infection can spread to other parts of the eye, causing iridocyclitis, keratitis, abscess formation, phlegmon, and decreased visual acuity.

Rash

Sometimes, in rare cases, dust allergy is accompanied by the appearance of reddened, sharply defined itchy areas on the skin. After a few hours, bubbles or blisters form on them, filled with liquid and having red edges. Outwardly, the areas with resemble traces of a nettle burn. Sometimes they can merge into giant foci. As a rule, urticaria passes quickly and does not leave marks on the skin.

Feeling tired

In some cases, feeling tired may be the first sign of an incipient allergic reaction to dust. A person may feel severe weakness, weakness and. A feeling of fatigue may accompany the patient throughout the entire period of the dust allergy episode.

Acute symptoms

Inhalation of dust can cause an asthma attack in an allergic person.

Hard breath

With an allergy to dust and prolonged contact with it, a person may experience blockage of the respiratory tract with mucus produced in response to the constant invasion of the allergen. At the same time, breathing becomes difficult, the patient has a feeling of lack of air (he seems to be unable to breathe and gasps for air).

Significant chest pain

An allergic reaction to dust can cause tightness and pain in the chest, because contact with the allergen provokes inflammation of the tissues of the chest, and a hacking and unrelieved cough causes additional stress on the muscles of the upper body. Such a manifestation of an allergy to dust requires mandatory and urgent medical supervision.

Dyspnea

An allergic reaction can cause spasm of the airways and lead to development. With each breath movement, a whistling sound or wheezing may occur. If such symptoms occur, the patient should definitely consult a doctor.

Eczema

In severe cases, dust allergies can cause eczema to develop. Rashes, peeling, abrasions and areas of inflammation or coarsening of the epidermis appear on the surface of the skin.

Asthma attacks

An allergic reaction to household dust is observed in 80% of patients with bronchial asthma. In some cases, it is dust allergy that becomes a provocative moment for the development of asthma in children or adults. A patient with asthma develops attacks during which he experiences severe shortness of breath, a painful cough and asthma attacks.

How to get rid of allergies to dust?

Unfortunately, medicine is not yet able to help a person completely get rid of allergies once and for all, but the use of certain pharmacological preparations and preventive measures can minimize the manifestations of this unpleasant and dangerous disease with its complications. The tactics of its treatment is determined individually and depends on the degree of manifestation of an allergic reaction.

If you find yourself even one of the above symptoms and its appearance is always associated with contact with dust, then you need to consult an allergist. Remember that allergy self-treatment will not give an effective result, and the progression of the disease can lead to the development of such complications of dust allergy as or bronchial asthma.

To identify and clarify the allergen, the patient will need to undergo a series of diagnostic examinations:

• skin tests;
• study of specific IgE antibodies;
• provocative tests;
• elimination tests;
• computer diagnostics by Voll's method.

Treatment and prevention

Elimination of contact with the allergen and prevention of exacerbations of an allergic reaction to dust

Thorough and regular wet cleaning in the house will help reduce the manifestations of allergies.

For the treatment of dust allergy, it is first recommended to limit exposure to dust as much as possible. This requires not only a thorough and regular cleaning of the premises, but also the “destruction of dust collectors”.

How can you limit exposure to dust as much as possible? For this you need:

1. Reduce the number of places where dust accumulates. It is necessary to completely reconsider the interior of your home and try to reduce the number of textiles that easily accumulate dust: remove carpets, replace curtains with easy-to-clean blinds, replace fabric-upholstered furniture with leather, reduce the number of decorative items that accumulate dust, remove books, souvenirs, soft toys in glazed cabinets, coverlets made of heavy fabrics should be replaced with easily washable ones. When choosing soft toys, give preference to those products that are easy to wash and dry.
2. Replace bedding (mattresses, blankets, pillows, blankets, etc.) with products that are easy to clean or wash and are made of smooth fabric. It is not recommended to use products made of fleece, flannel, wool or down. It is better to replace feather pillows with products with synthetic fillers and change them 2-3 times a year. All new bedding should be laundered, vacuumed, or shaken regularly. The mattress should be thoroughly vacuumed daily and put on a special dust cover made of dense fabric and covering it from all sides. The mattress should be replaced with a new one every 8-10 years - it is better to choose products with coconut filler or fillers that can be processed by non-chemical methods. Blankets, pillows and sheets should be shaken out and aired at least twice a week. Bed linen should be washed at least 2 times a week, using hot water (above 65 ° C) and detergents with special additives that can destroy dust mites.
3. If it is impossible to completely get rid of upholstered furniture or carpets, they must be cleaned using special products based on plant components, tannins, borates and benzyl benzoates (for example, Acarosan). These furniture cleaners denature epidermal or mite allergens and minimize their effect on the human body.
4. Thorough and regular cleaning of the premises. It is better to clean the premises at a time when the allergy sufferer is not in the house. If this condition cannot be met, the allergy sufferer should wear a mask that will protect the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and eyes from dust. For cleaning, you should use special vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters, which allow you to avoid increasing the concentration of allergens in the air. It is necessary to vacuum all surfaces thoroughly - every 0.5 m 2 for 1.5-2 minutes. As an alternative to such devices, vacuum cleaners with water filters (they must also contain a HEPA filter) or filters with thick walls and a valve system can be used. When using washing vacuum cleaners, special acaricidal (acting on dust mites) and anti-allergenic additives should be used. The floor should be washed regularly, and dust from various surfaces should be wiped with a damp cloth.
5. Use for cleaning rooms and laundry special household chemicals to deactivate allergens. For example: X-MIT, AllerDust, ODRX, AllerMold, All-Up, All-Rug, Allergen Wash, ADMS, ADS, Allergoff, Easy Air, etc.
6. Use air purifiers, air conditioners with an additional humidification system and ionizers to additionally purify the air from dust allergens. The optimum level of humidity in the room should be at least 40-60%. Filters in devices must be systematically replaced with new ones.

Medical treatment

To help manage the symptoms of an allergic reaction to dust, your doctor may recommend taking

allergy to dust, especially house dust allergy- one of the most common types of allergies. House dust is a mixture of many substances. Its composition may vary depending on the area, but the most common allergens that house dust contains are: dust mites, mold, insects and their waste products.

Any of these allergens can cause an immune system response that triggers the production of specific antibodies (immunoglobulins). Antibodies provoke an inflammatory allergic reaction. Even a small amount of the allergen can be enough to cause dust allergy symptoms.

It is quite difficult to establish the causes of this kind of allergy. Sometimes, even after studying the medical history, the specialist cannot find out what exactly is the allergen, since there are many factors in our environment that can provoke the body's reaction. One of the most valid methods is a skin test, when a doctor injects allergens into various areas of the skin, and then observes the body's reaction. A positive reaction of the body will cause redness of the skin area. Sometimes the allergist also prescribes a blood test, but this method is not so effective.

The most common cause of house dust allergy is dust mite allergy. This mite belongs to the family of eight-legged arachnids and is a distant relative of the spider. They are quite hardy, live and breed easily in a warm, humid place, preferring temperatures of at least 20 degrees Celsius, and die when the humidity drops below 40 percent. That is, in a dry climate, they are significantly less or not at all.

People who are allergic to dust react to proteins in the bodies and waste products of dust mites. These particles are found mainly in pillows, mattresses, carpets and upholstered furniture. They fly into the air when we vacuum, walk on carpet or fluff up bedding, and settle in the air shortly after cleaning is over.

If it was possible to determine what is the allergen, it is necessary to take measures to limit contact with it. So-called "targeted avoidance" can be as effective as drug treatment. Common cases of house dust allergy require "targeted avoidance," a course of medication prescribed by a doctor, and sometimes a special course of immunotherapy that consists of low-allergen vaccinations.

For many, allergies are most often caused by the excrement of saprotrophic mites that live and feed on feather and other stuffing of upholstered furniture and beds, dead skin particles, and thus they become residents of every house and apartment. These mites do not carry infections, do not bite, but excrement and dead chitinous cuticles are one of the strongest allergens currently known, which causes unwanted immune system reactions, the so-called tick sensitization, in approximately 40% of the world's inhabitants.

In itself, allergy to various types of dust is a manifestation of type I hypersensitivity reactions and excessive activation of mast cells in response to the ingestion of a specific protein (allergen). They are mediated immunoglobulin E and turn into a general inflammatory response - starting with benign manifestations ( , cough, pruritus ) and ending with life-threatening, for example,.

Classification

Depending on the allergen, there are:

• allergy to building dust, which contains coal and silicon suspensions, "aerosols" from particles of wood, cotton, linen, wool nature - natural organic origin, artificial - plastics, resins, rubber, metal - iron, zinc, aluminum or mineral - quartz , cement, asbestos, etc.;
• allergy to house dust, or rather its components;
• allergy to house dust mite or metabolites, their waste products.

Certain allergens in individual cases can provoke various types of allergies:

• respiratory, manifested in the form of itching in the nose, sneezing and coughing;
• skin - symptoms are observed from the side of the skin - their itching, development, blisters, or ;
• ophthalmic - visual analyzers suffer first of all: the eyelids become swollen, the eyes watery and redden, there are sensations of soreness or discomfort.

Causes

The main cause of allergy to dust is primary or repeated contact with the allergen, and for different individuals, hypersensitivity reactions can be provoked by a certain composition of dust, or one / several of its components.

Predisposing factors for the development of allergies are:

• the presence of an allergic person in the family, and parents and children may experience allergic reactions to completely different foods and substances;
• increased air pollution and humidity, as well as frequent changes in environmental and habitat conditions;
• endocrine disorders and malfunctions of the liver, kidneys, weakened immunity;
• excessive cleanliness and sterility of living conditions;
• life in cities with photochemical smog containing carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons from exhaust gases, other oxidizing agents formed under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, which increases the intake of sulfur, lead, technogenic gases through the respiratory tract, reduces the vital volume of the lungs, disrupts gas exchange processes and provokes the development of various pathologies;
• deep mental disorders and;
• chemicalization of production, everyday life and methods of treatment.

Dust allergy symptoms

Dust allergy symptoms vary from person to person. To find out how it manifests itself, it is enough for you to conduct an allergy test, but most often the clinical manifestation manifests itself in the form of bronchial asthma, as well as:

• causeless lacrimation and;
• allergic rhinitis ;
• allergic dermatitis ;
• difficulty breathing and;
• cough ;
• relentless sneezing;
• redness, rash and itching of the skin.

Attention! If you notice that after a major house cleaning, being in an uncleaned room or at a construction site, you experience the above reactions, then it is quite possible that you are allergic to construction or house dust, which is the result of dust mites' waste products.

Analyzes and diagnostics

To determine the allergy to dust, various studies and analyzes are carried out. In addition to studying the history, symptoms and examination, the allergist may prescribe:

• biochemical and general blood test;
• prick test, allergy tests (scarification and application) and determination of the level of IgE to allergens contained in house or industrial dust;
• allergometric titration.

Dust Allergy Treatment

Unfortunately, scientists have not yet established how to treat dust allergy, but thanks to the achievements of pharmacology, it is possible to stop its manifestations. Most often, antihistamines are used, with additional antipruritic, decongestant, anti-inflammatory and other effects that help reduce the severity of allergy symptoms. Also, the patient may be recommended vitamin therapy and taking immunostimulating drugs.

One of the methods of treating allergies, or rather a way to reduce sensitivity to an allergen, is desensitization . The method consists in the introduction of subcutaneously gradually increasing doses of the allergen, for example, extracts of micromites. The scheme of administration and doses are selected individually based on the history, allergy tests and characteristics of the body.

The first thing to do if you are allergic to house dust is to reduce the allergenic load on the body. To do this, it is recommended to carry out a thorough treatment of the home and pay attention to the air conditioner, which should also be cleaned regularly.

Next, do not forget to get rid of or dry-clean mattresses, pillows, toys, rugs, and also process the premises. Moreover, ordinary vacuum cleaners will not help, during operation they blow out air and can only “raise” dust, it is better to use new generation equipment, wet cleaning, ventilation and ionizers-air cleaners.

Before getting rid of annoying allergy symptoms, consult a qualified allergist and make sure that your treatment strategy is effective and safe.

The doctors

Medications

• - an antiallergic drug, a histamine antagonist, which is able to prevent the development and alleviate the course of allergies, removing its main symptoms - itching, swelling, redness, etc.
• - a drug related to H1-antihistamines, the action of which is aimed at preventing allergic reactions and alleviating existing symptoms due to the anti-exudative and antipruritic effect. Therapy may lead to adverse reactions -, anorexia , disorders of the central nervous system, etc.
• Nasafort Spray - a natural remedy for the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis, able to protect the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx from pollen, dust or other exoallergens.
• - Another drug from the antihistamine line, which is available in convenient forms - in tablets and syrup, which facilitates the treatment of young children. A day is enough 1 tablet or 2-10 ml of syrup during periods of exacerbation. The drug relieves a wide range of manifestations of various types of allergies, starting with, and ending with cough.
• - antiallergic agent with additional anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizing action. Available in the form of eye drops and nasal spray. It helps with allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis, relieves swelling, itching, redness and acts for 12 hours. Suitable for both children and adults.
• - a first-generation antihistamine, which, in addition to antiallergic action, has a sedative (sedative), hypnotic and antipruritic effect. Caution should be taken by persons with impaired liver and / or kidney function. The standard daily dose for adults is 75-100 mg up to 4 times a day.
• - a drug that can relieve the symptoms of an allergy to various substances and products. You need to take dragees and tablets every day, no more than 0.6 g.
• - a drug with a complex anti-edematous, antipruritic, anti-exudative anti-allergic action. It is produced not only in tablets, but also in the form of a solution for intramuscular and subcutaneous injections. Assign children over 3 years old, adults and adolescents daily doses, taking into account age from 20 to 100 mg.

Procedures and operations

To reduce the allergic load, various methods of efferent therapy are often used - hemosorption , plasmapheresis , external, intra-intestinal sorption and other procedures that allow toxic substances to be removed from the bloodstream, bind them and evacuate through the intestines.

There are cases when patients were helped by non-traditional methods of treatment - sessions hirudotherapy and .

Treatment with folk remedies

Not everyone wants to swallow tons of pills during periods of exacerbation of allergies, some try to solve the problem with folk remedies. Various herbs and herbal preparations help relieve the main symptoms of allergies:

• a decoction of viburnum bark saves from rhinitis, which you need to drink half a cup 2 times a day after meals, nettle decoction also helps, but it should be drunk before meals;
• puffiness removes high-quality mummy, which is diluted 1 g per 1 liter and drunk in the morning;
• other symptoms are helped by infusions of chamomile flowers, dandelion roots, burdock, celery juice.

Diet for dust allergies

With various types of allergies, one of the first immunorehabilitation measures is the transition to a hypoallergenic diet, which is rich in:

• vegetable dishes - salads, stews and soups;
• porridges and their decoctions;
• dairy products;
• healthy whole grain breads and baked fruit pies.

In this case, the patient's diet should be complete and contain 130 g of protein, 130 g of pure fats, 30% of which are of plant origin and 200 g of carbohydrates. Spices, salt, marinades, sauces, sausages, smoked meats, preservation, sugar, honey, chocolate, confectionery and pastries, alcohol and red and exotic fruits and vegetables usually fall under the ban. It is necessary to ensure that the purchased products are not subject to industrial processing, do not contain dyes, synthetic sugars or other additives.

In addition, to cleanse the body, fasting days and taking laxatives about 1 time per week may be recommended. Also, the removal of allergens is facilitated by the intake of activated charcoal and other enterosorbents, as well as products rich in pectin.

List of sources

• Ilonova V. A., “Where does the dust come from?”, M .: “Sanitary education”, 1996
• Dobrova E.V. Special diet against allergies and psoriasis. Ripol Classic, 2008 - Health & Fitness - 255 p.

it is an allergic reaction that occurs upon contact with the components of street or house dust and is manifested by the development of symptoms of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis or bronchial asthma. Diagnosis includes taking an anamnesis, conducting a physical medical examination, general clinical and allergological studies (skin prick tests, detection of specific immunoglobulins). Therapeutic measures include the termination or reduction of contact with the allergen, the use of antihistamines, symptomatic agents, and ASIT.

ICD-10

L20 H10.1 J30.3 J45.0

General information

Allergy to dust is a hypersensitivity reaction that develops when foreign protein components contained in dust enter the respiratory tract or on the skin. Clinical symptoms are manifested by the development of a runny nose, coughing and sneezing attacks, difficulty breathing and suffocation, itching of the skin. According to WHO, approximately 40% of all cases of year-round allergic reactions on Earth are associated with increased sensitivity of the body to dust components. The most common allergen present in house dust is microparticles of mites and their waste products. On average, one gram of dust from a mattress can contain from 200 to 15,000 mites.

Causes

The complex of organic and inorganic components contained in dust includes all kinds of chemicals that enter the apartment from the street, fragments of the vital activity of animals, insects, arachnids and other potential allergens:

• street dust. Contains particles of soil, gravel, bitumen, cement, soot, plant pollen and fungal spores, various microorganisms.
• Animal waste products. These are wool, dandruff, saliva, products of the sebaceous glands, excrement of domestic animals (cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.). The main allergenic properties are foreign proteins of saliva and the upper layer of animal skin attached to their fur.
• house dust mites. Microscopic fragments of the bodies and excrement of pyroglyphid house dust mites are localized in mattresses, blankets, pillows, carpets and upholstery of upholstered furniture. Ticks feed on constantly exfoliating cells of the human epidermis, releasing special enzymes to break them down, which are strong allergens. The optimal environment for the life of pyroglyph mites is humidity above 50-60% and temperature in the range of 20-26 degrees Celsius.
• Other allergens. They include cellulose particles from the paper pages of books and various microorganisms contained in library dust, mold fungi, fragments of bodies and secretions of insects (flies, ants, cockroaches).

The above allergens are microscopic in size, volatile, water-soluble, so they can easily enter the human body along with dust through direct contact with interior items and bedding (during sleep and rest, when cleaning rooms), and by inhalation.

Pathogenesis

Upon initial contact with dust allergens, sensitization develops, accompanied by increased production of specific IgE immunoglobulins by immune cells. Re-penetration of a foreign protein into the body (on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx, bronchi, skin) and its interaction with antibodies causes the activation of mast cells with the release of inflammatory mediators and the development of clinical manifestations of an allergic reaction in one of the "target organs". Relevant symptoms may appear in the first minutes after exposure to the allergen (in the early phase) or after 3-6 hours (delayed phase). In pathogenesis, there is also a mechanism of nonspecific tissue hyperreactivity to substances that are not true allergens. In this case, the symptoms appear in response to the non-specific irritating effect of non-protein components of dust in the absence of an immunological stage and the development of an inflammatory process by the mechanism of a pseudo-allergic reaction.

Dust allergy symptoms

The clinical picture of an allergic reaction to dust depends on the route of penetration of foreign proteins into the body (mucosa of the nasopharynx, larynx and bronchi, skin), hereditary predisposition, age, concomitant diseases and other factors. In this case, there are signs of conjunctivitis, rhinitis, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis. Dust allergy symptoms can occur throughout the year, including in the autumn and winter.

Clinical manifestations of allergic conjunctivitis are characterized by damage to the conjunctiva with its redness and expansion of capillaries, the appearance of hyperemia and swelling of the edges of the eyelids, and lacrimation. In the acute period, symptoms develop in the first minutes or hours after the allergen hits the conjunctiva and is accompanied by intense itching, a burning sensation under the eyelids, and photophobia. With an allergy to dust, a chronic course of conjunctivitis is more common with meager manifestations: periodic itching and burning in the eye area, slight lacrimation.

Irritation of the nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis is manifested by bouts of sneezing, which become more pronounced in the evening after entering a dusty room, as well as after a night's sleep. Sneezing is accompanied by copious rhinorrhea and itching. In chronic sensitization, there is a periodic feeling of itching, tickling in the nasal cavity, full nasal breathing is difficult. At night, sore throat and superficial cough are disturbed, caused by irritation of the nasopharynx by the flowing mucous contents of the nasal cavity.

Allergic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tree leads to shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air, dry cough with sputum difficult to separate, sudden attacks of obstruction with suffocation. Exacerbation of atopic bronchial asthma caused by allergy to dust is more often observed in autumn and winter due to an increase in the amount of dust in the premises and a decrease in air humidity during the heating season. At the same time, the well-being of patients improves significantly after leaving the dusty rooms in the morning, and worsens in the evening after returning to the apartment.

The defeat of the skin in case of allergy to dust is characterized by the presence of itchy rashes on the skin like urticaria, signs of atopic dermatitis with persistent erythema and peeling, the appearance of cracks, eroded areas with weeping and subsequent crusting, frequent infection of damaged surfaces. Skin itching becomes one of the main symptoms of allergic dermatitis, intensifying during room cleaning and at night. The general condition of patients is often disturbed, which is manifested by frequent headache, sleep disturbance, irritability and mood swings, and social maladaptation.

Complications

A complicated course develops with frequent exacerbations of respiratory and skin allergies, the addition of a bacterial infection, a combination of dust allergy with chronic respiratory diseases. After 3-5 years of moderate course of atopic asthma, emphysema of the lungs and cor pulmonale may develop. Systematic contact with industrial dust is fraught with pneumoconiosis. Occasionally, dust allergy can cause systemic disorders: thrombocytopenic purpura, exogenous allergic alveolitis, nephropathy.

Diagnostics

For the correct diagnosis of dust allergy, it is necessary to carefully collect an allergic history (presence of a hereditary predisposition, previous allergic reactions, deterioration of well-being in enclosed spaces with an abundance of upholstered furniture and carpets, while cleaning rooms). At the appointment with an allergist-immunologist, a clinical examination of the skin and visible mucous membranes, palpation of the internal organs, general clinical and biochemical tests, and spirometry are prescribed. In the presence of allergic inflammation of the nasopharynx, skin, an ENT doctor, dermatologist, ophthalmologist is consulted.

To detect the disease, skin scarification and prick tests are performed with standard epidermal allergens of animals (cats, dogs, sheep, rabbits) and house dust mites, specific IgE immunoglobulins are determined. Provocative tests may be performed as indicated. Differential diagnosis of dust allergy is carried out with other allergic diseases, pathology of ENT organs (rhinitis, sinusitis of viral and bacterial etiology), acute and chronic bronchitis, skin diseases.

Dust Allergy Treatment

Therapeutic measures include limiting contact with allergens, the use of barrier drugs, antiallergic drugs, ASIT.

• Reduced contact with dust. Carrying out regular wet cleaning of premises (floors and walls, furniture and household appliances) with cleaning of carpets, mattresses, timely replacement of bed linen. It is advisable to replace feather pillows and duvets with synthetic ones. It is necessary to ventilate the rooms daily, humidify the air in the premises.
• barrier means. In the initial stage of allergic rhinitiscaused by dust allergy, it is possible to use special sprays applied to the nasal mucosa and creating a barrier, protective layer there that prevents the penetration of the allergen.
• Antiallergic agents. Antihistamines of the first and second generation, membrane stabilizers are used, in severe cases - glucocorticosteroids locally, orally or parenterally.
• ASIT. The use of allergen-specific immunotherapy is most effective in allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma (if allergens of pets and dust mites are detected during the immunological study). Treatment should be carried out according to strict indications, taking into account possible side effects from therapy. The total duration of ASIT is from 2 to 5 years.

Forecast and prevention

Timely detection of allergens that caused a hypersensitivity reaction upon contact with dust and the appointment of adequate treatment (including immunotherapy) can achieve a stable remission of the disease. Severe and complicated forms with disability develop with the systematic exposure to dust irritants (home, library, industrial dust). The prevention of exacerbations is based on the constant implementation of measures to reduce contact with dust: daily wet cleaning of the apartment, hygienic treatment of pets, automation of technological processes, use of personal protective equipment (respirators, masks).