House dust allergy is common even in clean homes.

House dust is a major cause of year-round runny or stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes and sneezing for allergy sufferers.

Dust can also make people with asthma experience wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath.

House dust is a mixture of many things. It varies from home to home, depending on the type of furniture, building materials, presence of pets, moisture and other factors.

A speck of dust may contain fabric fibers, human skin particles, animal dander, microscopic creatures called mites, bacteria, parts of cockroaches, mould spores, food particles and other debris.

Of these, animal dander, house dust mites and cockroaches are the most common culprits.

A person may be allergic to one or more of these substances, and, if exposed to the dust, will have an allergic reaction.