Environmental and Occupational Allergies-Primer

Question 1

What are the 2 major groups of mite allergens?

Answer 1

Group 1: derived from proteins found in the mite gut

Group 2: primarily male reproductive glycoproteins.

Question 2

What is a major source of mite allergen?

Answer 2

mite fecal pellet

Question 3

What are typical sizes for dust mite allergen?

Answer 3

These allergens are found on particles that range from 10 to 20 μm in size, which means they tend to settle on surfaces and are not suspended in ambient air

Question 4

Where do cockroach allergens derive from?

Answer 4

body and feces

Question 5

What is typical size of CR allergen?

Answer 5

10-40 μm

Question 6

Where are mouse allergens found?

Answer 6

Urine

Question 7

What is typical size of mouse allergen?

Answer 7

<10um therefore found suspended in ambient air

Question 8

Where are the common allergens from dog and cat found?

Answer 8

Saliva, dander and other secretions

Question 9

What is typical size of dog and cat allergen?

Answer 9

<10um therefore found suspended in ambient air

Question 10

What is typical size of mold spores?

Answer 10

between 2 and 10 μm in size and thus can remain in ambient air for extended periods of time (especially hyphae which are fibrous

Question 11

Which mold species in outdoor settings is linked to increased asthma severity and airway reactivity?

Answer 11

Alternaria: it is known that Alternaria species in outdoor settings is linked to increased asthma severity and airway reactivity

Question 12

What is the most significant and remediable indoor air pollutant in the United States?

Answer 12

Environmental tobacco smoke

Question 13

_____ exposure enhances the development of atopy and asthma

Answer 13

ETS environmental tobacco smoke

Question 14

________ levels of humidity are associated with ______ severity of asthma

Answer 14

decreased; decreased

Question 15

HEPA filters are not effective for which allergens?

Answer 15

Most mite and CR allergen

Question 16

Which are more important cause of asthma? Pollen or Mold?

Answer 16

Mold-esp Alternaria

Question 17

Which pollens shed in spring?

Answer 17

Tree pollen

Question 18

Which pollens shed in early summer?

Answer 18

grass pollen

Question 19

Which pollens shed in late summer and fall?

Answer 19

weed pollen esp ragweed

Question 20

What causes the nasal symptoms of hay fever?

Answer 20

Pollen grains deposit on the nasal mucosa and release allergenic proteins to cause hay fever

Question 21

pollen-induced asthma differs from that of hay fever in 2 ways?

Answer 21

it starts later in the season and persists after the season ends.
(Also It’s worse during thunderstorms.)