Resources for Medical Professionals
Learn more about common allergic diseases, symptoms, management paradigms, and testing considerations.
Is your patient a candidate for specific IgE testing?
Get detailed information on whole allergens and allergen components.
Ready to test a patient?
Access videos and webinars delivered by key experts in the field of allergy.
Resources for Medical Professionals
Learn more about common allergic diseases, symptoms, management paradigms, and testing considerations.
Is your patient a candidate for specific IgE testing?
Get detailed information on whole allergens and allergen components.
Ready to test a patient?
Access videos and webinars delivered by key experts in the field of allergy.
Indoor Allergies
Symptoms, types, and testing
Allergens can be found in the places where you live, work, or your kids go to school. More than 92% of homes in the United States have at least one allergen that can be found in dust.1 And more than 46% of homes have three or more allergens.1
From kitchens to bedrooms, there are plenty of places that can harbor indoor allergens. Use this webpage to help you learn more about indoor allergies and why it's so important for you to get tested to uncover what's causing your symptoms. A blood test may help rule in or rule out allergies.
What are indoor allergies?
Indoor allergies affect people who are sensitized to allergens that are typically found inside – like dust mites, mold, pets, and cockroaches. They are often referred to as perennial allergies or year-round allergies because they are not tied to any specific season and can truly be a problem all year. Sometimes indoor allergies are referred to as winter allergies because symptoms typically are worse during colder months (location dependent) when people spend more time inside.
Common indoor allergens
Everyone wants to think of their home as a safe haven where they can relax and keep out unpleasant things. Unfortunately, there are some creatures (and fungi) that can make that a difficult challenge. Even the tidiest, cleanest houses out there likely have potential indoor allergens lurking about.
Let's take a closer look at the four most common categories of indoor allergens. Keep scrolling for insight on dust mites, pests, mold, and pets.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic creatures found in the majority of homes – about 84% of households in the U.S.2 They hang out in soft, fabric-type areas like bedding, pillows, mattresses, stuffed animals, and couches.3
Pests
No one wants to think they have mice or cockroaches in their home. However, in one U.S. housing survey, 82% of homes had at least one detectable mouse allergen (typically urine, hair follicles, and dander).3,4 And cockroaches are no strangers to spending time in lots of kitchens, beds, and carpets. Cockroach allergens come from cast skins, secretions, egg casings, whole bodies, and fecal materials.5
Mold
Mold allergies are estimated to affect 3% to 10% of people around the globe.6 The types of mold most likely to cause allergy symptoms are Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Penicillium.7 Mold can grow on a variety of indoor surfaces including shower doors, house plants, air conditioners, humidifiers, carpets, insulation, and drywall.8
Pets
Dogs and cats are two of the most common pets that cause allergies. In one study, more than 99% of homes that were tested had detectable levels of cat and dog allergens.9 And because pet dander is easily transported (on clothing, for example), it often ends up in pet-free homes.10 So, not having a cat or dog is not a guarantee of a dander-free home. That dander can be found on carpets, furniture, bedding, and within air ducts.
Common indoor allergy symptoms
Some of the most common indoor allergy symptoms include:
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How do I know if my symptoms are from indoor allergies?
These symptoms above are similar to those that can be triggered by other allergens, as well as non-allergic causes. So, how do you know what's causing your symptoms? A blood test can help get to the bottom of it.
Want to be prepared to have a conversation with your healthcare provider about your symptoms and whether a specific IgE blood test might be right for you?
What is a specific IgE blood test?
A specific IgE blood test evaluates the presence of immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody produced by the immune system, in a sample of your blood. Taking into account the symptoms you are experiencing plus your past medical history, a healthcare provider may order a specific IgE blood test to help rule in or rule out allergies.
Whole allergens vs. allergen components
Not only can tests show your sensitization to whole allergens, but a test that includes allergen components can break down results even further. Why does that matter? Being sensitized to a whole allergen doesn't always tell the full story. A deeper dive with allergen components can potentially reveal some life-altering details - like maybe you aren't allergic to all dogs, so you actually can get a four-legged friend.
Treating and managing indoor allergies
If your specific IgE blood test results indicate a sensitization to one or more indoor allergens, your healthcare provider will help come up with a personalized treatment and management plan.
Treatments can range from over-the-counter medications like antihistamines and nasal sprays to the more involved allergen immunotherapy, which may help you develop a tolerance to exposure to specific allergens.
How can I reduce exposure to indoor allergens?
A management plan from your provider will include suggestions on how to reduce exposure to the allergens that triggers symptoms. Here are some typical suggestions:
Vacuum often with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter
Use allergen-proof coverings for pillows, mattresses, etc.
Regularly change furnace filters
Fix water leaks and clean up any standing water immediately
Consider a dehumidifier to reduce humidity
You can find a full list of recommendations in the FAQs below.
Why do I need to know if I have indoor allergies?
It's true that if you suspect you are allergic to something in your house, you might be able to take an over-the-counter allergy medication and get rid of your symptoms. But it's often not that simple. It might not even be allergies.
Exceeding your symptom threshold
Most people with allergies are sensitized to multiple allergens – up to 80% of them.11 For example, you might be sensitized to pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. When you’re exposed to multiple allergic triggers, it can cause you to pass the symptom threshold, the point at which your body reacts by developing symptoms to those allergens. That’s why it's important to know your particular triggers so you can minimize your exposure and keep your symptoms under control. That means if you can minimize your exposure to dust mites and pet dander, you might not experience symptoms when exposed to pollen. But you can only do that if you know what you are sensitized to.
Diving deeper with allergen components
As mentioned above, testing with allergen components can provide more detailed information about what you are sensitized to, and that can make a big impact on life decisions. Instead of thinking you can never own a dog, you might need to just make sure you get a female dog because the protein you are sensitized to is only found in male dogs. Instead of giving up your cat, you might be able to just switch its food to one that will neutralize the protein you are sensitized to.
Understanding allergies and asthma
Studies indicate that more than 80% of school-age children with asthma are sensitized to at least one indoor allergen.12 So ruling in or ruling out allergies can be key to minimizing exposure to potential triggers and preventing asthma exacerbations.
It might not be allergies causing symptoms
Non-allergic rhinitis is when you experience symptoms similar to those caused by allergies (sneezing, runny nose, coughing), but they are instead caused by non-allergic sources. Non-allergic triggers that you might encounter indoors include cigarette smoke, cleaning chemicals, and perfumes. In order to treat symptoms, you'll need to know what is triggering them. Non-allergic rhinitis symptoms will not go away by taking an antihistamine.
Specific IgE blood testing can help remove the guesswork about what's causing your symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Indoor Allergies
A person's immune system changes as they age, and these changes can lead to increased susceptibility to conditions like autoimmune diseases and allergies.13 So, you might not have previously been sensitized to some indoor allergens, like dust mites or mold, but your immune system has changed and now you are seeing symptoms because you are sensitized to those allergens.
Reducing your exposure to allergens (by getting rid of those allergens) is key to minimizing your symptoms. Here are some practical ways to do that.14,15
Animal dander
- Confine the pet to a room with a polished floor and furniture you can wipe down.
- Restrict the animal from the bedroom and keep it off the furniture.
- Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and vacuum cleaners.
- Wash your pet weekly in warm water and soap.
Dust mites
- Encase mattresses, pillows, and box springs in allergen-proof coverings.
- Wash bedding weekly in water 130°F (54°C) or more.
- Vacuum and reduce clutter in the home.
- Wear an appropriate mask while cleaning and avoid the area for 20 minutes thereafter.
- Change furnace and air conditioner filters.
- Use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity in your home.
Cockroaches
- Vacuum and sweep floors after meals, and immediately do the dishes.
- Keep food and garbage in closed containers; take out the garbage regularly.
- Locate and remove cockroach hiding places and food sources.
- Fix leaky faucets and pipes to remove an accessible water source for roaches.
- Remove clutter. Don’t store paper bags, newspapers, or cardboard boxes in your home.
- Place bait traps or call a professional exterminator to eliminate cockroaches.
- Seal plumbing openings, cracks, and crevices.
Mold
- Identify and clean moldy areas with fungicide or bleach.
- Use a dehumidifier to reduce humidity in your home.
- Fix water leaks.
- Clean furnace filters, the refrigerator, and the dehumidifier (clean drip pans with bleach).
- Dry clothes thoroughly before storing.
Mice
- Seal holes and cracks from the home to the outside.
- Seal passages through interior floors, walls, the ceiling, and gaps between the bottom of cabinetry or built-in furniture and the floor.
- Keep bushes and trees at least three feet from the home.
- Ensure trash is stored in secure containers.
- Store food in rodent-proof containers.
A conversation with your healthcare provider is a great place to start. After a review of your symptoms and medical history, your provider might suggest a blood test to help get to the bottom of what's causing symptoms. A specific IgE blood test can help rule in or rule out allergies and that will give your provider the information needed to help come up with a personalized treatment and management plan.
A humidifier can make some indoor allergens worse. Mold and dust mites thrive in humid environments, so increasing the humidity in your home can potentially increase those allergens, which can make symptoms worse.
No. If you’re scrubbing your floors or your shower and you start sneezing, it isn’t allergies. Cleaning chemicals such as bleach and detergent are a common cause of non-allergic rhinitis. This can result in allergy-like symptoms, but it’s your body reacting to an irritant, not producing an allergic reaction.
Clinical resources for healthcare providers interested in learning more about indoor allergies and specific IgE testing
- Krieger J. Home is Where the Triggers Are: Increasing Asthma Control by Improving the Home Environment. Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology. 2010;23(2):139-145.
- Aggarwal P, et al. Dust Mite Allergy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
- Baxi SN, et al. The role of allergen exposure and avoidance in asthma. Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews. 2010;21(1):57-71.
- Phipatanakul W, et al. Environmental assessment and exposure reduction of rodents: a practice parameter. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2012;109(6):375-387.
- Dramburg S, et al. EAACI Molecular Allergology User's Guide 2.0. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2023;34(28):e13854.
- Twaroch TE, et al. Mold allergens in respiratory allergy: from structure to therapy. Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research. 2015;7(3):205-220.
- Ozdemir O. Molds and Respiratory Allergy – Part 1. MOJ Immunology. 2015;2(2):11-12.
- Storey E. Guidance for clinicians on the recognition and management of health effects related to mold exposure and moisture indoors. Farmington, CT: University of Connecticut Health Center, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Center for Indoor Environments and Health; 2004.
- Salo PM, et al. Exposure to multiple indoor allergens in US homes and its relationship to asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2008;121(3):678-684.e2.
- Arbes SJ Jr., et al. Dog allergen (Can f 1) and cat allergen (Fel d 1) in US homes: results from the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2004;114(1):111-117.
- Cacheiro-Llaguno C., et al. Polysensitisation is associated with more severe symptoms: The reality of patients with allergy. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. 2024;54(8):607-620.
- Sheehan WJ, et al. Indoor allergen exposure and asthma outcomes. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2016;28(6):772-777.
- De Martinis M, et al. Allergy and Aging: An Old/New Emerging Health Issue. Aging and Disease. 2017;8(2):162-175.
- National Environmental Education Foundation. Environmental management of pediatric asthma: guidelines for health care providers. Washington (DC): National Environmental Education Foundation; 2008.
- Wright LS, et al. Environmental remediation in the treatment of allergy and asthma: latest updates. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014;14(3):419.
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Create a summary of your allergy symptoms in a downloadable document
Share the summary with your healthcare provider for a productive conversation about allergy blood testing
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Allergy Symptom Questionnaire
Allergies affect us all differently. This questionnaire will summarize your specific allergy symptoms to share with your healthcare provider and learn more about your testing options.
- Create a summary of your allergy symptoms in a downloadable document
- Share the summary with your healthcare provider for a productive conversation about allergy blood testing
- Gain an optimized diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan
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Create a summary of your allergy symptoms in a downloadable document |
Create a summary of your allergy symptoms in a downloadable document
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Share the summary with your healthcare provider for a productive conversation about allergy blood testing |
Share the summary with your healthcare provider for a productive conversation about allergy blood testing
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Gain an optimized diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan |
Gain an optimized diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan
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- Schedule online, in-person or in the CVS Pharmacy App
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