Symptoms of an indoor allergy
The symptoms of an indoor allergy are like having a cold. They happen at any age and any time of year, unlike seasonal allergies such as hay fever.
However, some allergens inside the home can trigger the symptoms of hay fever as well as other conditions such as eczema and asthma.
The symptoms of an indoor allergy usually have two phases:
- the early phase, which happens within minutes of being exposed to the allergen
- the late phase, which happens four to eight hours after exposure
The early phase
The early-phase symptoms of indoor allergy include:
- sneezing
- runny nose
- blocked nose (nasal congestion)
- itchiness and irritation of your eyes, nose and throat
- itchy skin or rashes
- facial pain
- tightness in the chest
- headache
The late phase
The late-phase symptoms of indoor allergy are similar to those of the early stage, but with less sneezing and itching. The symptoms of nasal congestion also get worse and you may find yourself producing a lot of mucus.
In a small number of people, the nasal congestion is so severe that they lose some of their sense of taste and smell. The late phase can continue for hours or days.
Over time, repeated allergic reactions can lead to more generalised symptoms, such as:
- fatigue
- feeling very sleepy
- a general sense of feeling unwell
