Autumn is also the time to be extra-concerned about another cause of indoor allergies that's becoming more and more prevalent: Asian ladybugs.

These bugs are usually happy to stay in the woods during summer, but when temperatures start to drop, they migrate and find warmer places to while away the winter. During the AAAAI annual meeting last year, researchers report that ladybugs have indeed become the new indoor allergen, comparable in sensitization rates as allergies to cockroach and cat. According to this article from the Herald Standard:

The effects are most noticeable during the heaviest infestation period - October to December -but many with ladybug allergies suffer until the insects depart their homes in the spring. Some of Ogershok's sickest patients suffer from ladybug allergies, he said.

"In October, November and December, about 25 percent of the patients who come through my office are coming clearly just for ladybug issues," he said. "I find that those people are sicker than even the people with tree and ragweed allergies."

Some of his ladybug-allergy patients have suffered from severe swelling in their eyes, nasal polyps and asthma problems. Other allergists have reported patients suffering from hives and even anaphylaxis (a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction) because of ladybugs.

Ladybug allergies affect men and women equally, and they strike all ages, including the very young - Ogershok has treated 1-year-olds with the allergy.

The article further explores option to control ladybug infestations in homes: call an exterminator for pest control, seal off cracks in walls, windows and doors, use indoor ultraviolet-light traps. If you are showing allergy symptoms to the bugs, do not squash them as it will trigger a release of their defensive chemicals and worsen any allergy symptoms. Get someone who's not allergic to vacuum them up and deposit them outside.

Photo: Wikipedia