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Allergen: A substance that triggers an allergic reaction.
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Allergic Rhinitis: An allergy affecting the mucus membrane of the nose. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is often called "hay fever."
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Allergist: A doctor that diagnoses, treats, and manages allergy-related conditions.
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Ana-Kit: A device used to inject epinephrine during an anaphylaxis attack.
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Anaphylaxis: A life-threatening allergic reaction that involves the entire body. Anaphylaxis may result in shock or death, and thus requires immediate medical attention
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Animal dander: The small scales or pieces of skin, often containing proteins secreted by oil glands, which are shed by an animal. These proteins are the major causes of allergies to pets.
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Antibiotics: A class of medications used to treat bacterial infections. Certain antibiotics, such as penicillin, may cause an allergic reaction in some people.
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Antibody: A protein in the immune system that recognizes and attacks foreign substances in the body.
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Anticonvulsant: A medication used to prevent or treat seizures. Certain anticonvulsants may cause an allergic reaction in some people.
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Antihistamines: A class of medications used to block the action of histamines in the body and prevent the symptoms of an allergic reaction.
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Asthma: An inflammatory disorder of the airways, causing periodic attacks of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
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Atopic dermatitis: A chronic skin rash, also known as "eczema," that often appears in the first few years of life.
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Basophil: An immune system cell that attaches to antibodies and circulates through out the blood.
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Beta-blockers: A class of blood pressure medications that ease the heart's pumping action and widen the blood vessels. Beta-blockers counteract the effects of epinephrine used for emergency treatment of anaphylactic shock and should not be used during immunotherapy.
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Bronchial tubes: The lower sections of the airway that lead into the lungs.
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Challenge test: A test used to confirm an allergy to specific substance. A doctor will administer small but increasing amounts of a suspected allergen until an allergic response is noticed. Due to the risk of anaphylaxis, this should only be performed under a controlled setting.
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Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the conjunctiva, or the mucous membrane surrounding the eye. Also known as pinkeye.
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Corticosteroid: An anti-inflammatory medication used to treat the itching and swelling associated with some allergic reactions.
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Cromolym sodium: An anti-inflammatory nasal spray used to treat and sometimes prevent allergic rhinitis.
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Decongestants: A class of medications used for nasal congestion. Decongestants are available in oral doses, nasal sprays, or eye drops (for conjunctivitis).
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Dust mites: A microscopic organism that lives in dust.
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Eczema: See Atopic dermatitis.
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Eosinophil: A specific type of immune cell that can cause tissue damage in the late phase of an allergic reaction.
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Epinepherine: A medication used for immediate treatment of anaphylaxis by raising blood pressure and heart rate back to normal levels. Epinepherine is also known as adrenaline.
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EpiPen: A device used to inject epinephrine during an anaphylaxis attack.
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Heparin: A chemical released by basophils and mast cells that causes nearby tissues to become swollen and inflamed.
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Histamine: A chemical released by basophils and mast cells that causes nearby tissues to become swollen and inflamed.
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Hives: See urticaria.
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Hypertension: High blood pressure. When blood pushes against artery walls harder than normal.
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Immunoglobulin E: A type of antibody responsible for most allergic reactions.
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Immunotherapy: A series of shots that help build up the immune system's tolerance to an allergen.
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Insulin: A hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. Diabetics who take insulin derived from animals may have allergic reactions.
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Intradermal test: A test where an allergen is injected just underneath the skin. Intradermal tests are generally used when results from a skin prick test are unclear.
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Late Phase: The period 4 - 24 hours after exposure to an allergen where tissue damage may occur.
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Leukotrienes: Inflammatory substances that are released by mast cells during an allergic response or asthma attack.
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Lymphocyte: A specific type of immune cell that can cause tissue damage in the late phase of an allergic reaction.
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Mast cell: An immune system cell which attaches to antibodies and is located in the tissue that lines the nose, bronchial tubes, gastrointestinal tract, and the skin
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Neocromil sodium: An inhaled medication used to treat inflammation involved with asthma.
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Neutrophil: A specific type of immune cell that can cause tissue damage in the late phase of an allergic reaction.
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Radioallergosorbant Test (RAST): A blood test that measures the amount of IgE antibody produced when the sample is mixed with a specific allergen.
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Rhinitis: An inflammation of the nasal passageways, particularly with discharge.
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Sinusitis: An inflammation or infection of one or more sinuses. The sinuses are hollow air spaces located around the nose and eyes.
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Skin prick test: A test where a needle is used to scratch the skin with a small amount of allergen. A response can usually be seen within 15 - 20 minutes.
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Urticaria: Raised areas of the skin that are often red, warm, and itchy. Urticaria is also known as hives.
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Urushiol: An oil found on poison ivy, oak, and sumac.
Along with pollens from trees, grasses, and
weeds, molds are an important cause of seasonal allergic
rhinitis. People allergic to molds may have symptoms from spring to late
fall. The mold season often peaks from July to late summer. Unlike pollens,
molds may persist after the first killing frost. Some can grow at subfreezing
temperatures, but most become dormant. Snow cover lowers the outdoor mold count
dramatically but does not kill molds. After the spring thaw, molds thrive on
the vegetation that has been killed by the winter cold.
In the warmest areas of the United States, however, molds thrive all year
and can cause year-round (perennial) allergic problems. In addition, molds
growing indoors can cause perennial allergic rhinitis even in the coldest climates.
What is mold?
There are thousands of types of molds and yeast, the two groups of plants
in the fungus family. Yeasts are single cells that divide to form clusters.
Molds consist of many cells that grow as branching threads called hyphae. Although
both groups can probably cause allergic reactions, only a small number of molds
are widely recognized offenders.
The seeds or reproductive particles of fungi are called spores. They differ
in size, shape, and color among species. Each spore that germinates can give
rise to new mold growth, which in turn can produce millions of spores.
What is mold allergy?
When inhaled, microscopic fungal spores or, sometimes, fragments of fungi
may cause allergic rhinitis. Because they are so small, mold spores may evade
the protective mechanisms of the nose and upper respiratory tract to reach
the lungs.
In a small number of people, symptoms of mold allergy may be brought on or
worsened by eating certain foods, such as cheeses, processed with fungi. Occasionally,
mushrooms, dried fruits, and foods containing yeast, soy sauce, or vinegar
will produce allergic symptoms.
Where do molds grow?
Molds can be found wherever there is moisture, oxygen, and a source of the
few other chemicals they need. In the fall they grow on rotting logs and fallen
leaves, especially in moist, shady areas. In gardens, they can be found in
compost piles and on certain grasses and weeds. Some molds attach to grains
such as wheat, oats, barley, and corn, making farms, grain bins, and silos
likely places to find mold.
Hot spots of mold growth in the home include damp basements and closets, bathrooms
(especially shower stalls), places where fresh food is stored, refrigerator
drip trays, house plants, air conditioners, humidifiers, garbage pails, mattresses,
upholstered furniture, and old foam rubber pillows.
Bakeries, breweries, barns, dairies, and greenhouses are favorite places for
molds to grow. Loggers, mill workers, carpenters, furniture repairers, and
upholsterers often work in moldy environments.
Which molds are allergenic?
Like pollens, mold spores are important airborne
allergens only if they are abundant, easily carried by air currents,
and allergenic in their chemical makeup. Found almost everywhere, mold spores
in some areas are so numerous they often outnumber the pollens in the air.
Fortunately, however, only a few dozen different types are significant allergens.
In general, Alternaria and Cladosporium (Hormodendrum) are the
molds most commonly found both indoors and outdoors throughout the United States. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Helminthosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Mucor, Rhizopus,
and Aureobasidium (Pullularia) are also common.
There is no relationship, however, between a respiratory allergy to the mold
Penicillium and an allergy to the drug penicillin, which is made from mold.
Are mold counts helpful?
Similar to pollen counts, mold counts may suggest the types and relative quantities
of fungi present at a certain time and place. For several reasons, however,
these counts probably cannot be used as a constant guide for daily activities.
One reason is that the number and types of spores actually present in the
mold count may have changed considerably in 24 hours because weather and spore
dispersal are directly related. Many of the common allergenic molds are of
the dry spore type -- they release their spores during dry, windy weather.
Other fungi need high humidity, fog, or dew to release their spores. Although
rain washes many larger spores out of the air, it also causes some smaller
spores to be shot into the air.
In addition to the effect of day-to-day weather changes on mold counts, spore
populations may also differ between day and night. Day favors dispersal by
dry spore types and night favors wet spore types.
Are there other mold-related disorders?
Fungi or organisms related to them may cause other health problems similar
to allergic diseases. Some kinds of Aspergillus may cause several different
illnesses, including both infections and allergy. These fungi may lodge in
the airways or a distant part of the lung and grow until they form a compact
sphere known as a "fungus ball." In people with lung damage or serious underlying
illnesses, Aspergillus may grasp the opportunity to invade the lungs
or the whole body.
In some individuals, exposure to these fungi also can lead to asthma or to
a lung disease resembling severe inflammatory asthma called allergic bronchopulmonary
aspergillosis. This latter condition, which occurs only in a minority of people
with asthma, is characterized by wheezing, low-grade fever, and coughing up
of brown-flecked masses or mucus plugs. Skin testing, blood tests, x-rays,
and examination of the sputum for fungi can help establish the diagnosis. Corticosteroid
drugs are usually effective in treating this reaction. Immunotherapy (allergy
shots) is not helpful.
Created by the National Institutes of Health. Illustrations copyright A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
Review Date: 4/4/2007
Reviewed By:
Alan Greene, M.D., F.A.A.P., Department of Pediatrics, Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine; Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-
A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
