Knowing the Causes

• The first step to allergen management, according to the Cleveland Clinic, is knowing what causes the allergy symptoms. Patients suffering from allergies can find this answer through observation and/or blood tests. Blood tests can reveal if a patient is allergic to molds and pollens. However, a patient can also determine what she is allergic to by noticing if she is symptomatic during certain times of the year, after coming in contact with a certain substance (like latex) or by eating certain foods. After a patient knows what is causing her allergies to act up, she can begin to have better control over them.
  
  

Management through Avoidance

• Avoidance is the simplest form of allergen management when a patient knows exactly what he is allergic to and where those allergens are found. For example, a person who is allergic to latex can avoid coming into contact with the material by letting his doctors know about the allergy and by staying away from latex. Likewise, a person with a food allergy can avoid triggering her allergies by not ingesting the food that causes problems.
  
  

At Home

• There are allergy-causing substances that you cannot avoid in life, like dust or pollen, but you can manage them in your home. The Cleveland Clinic suggests allergy sufferers keep their windows closed, keep humidity levels low to prevent mold growth and use an air-conditioning unit to cool the home. Routine cleaning of the home, such as vacuuming and dusting on a regular basis, can greatly reduce the amount of allergens that enter the home. Cleaning with household cleaners on a regular basis, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, will kill molds in the home and prevent their growth.
  
  

Outdoors

• If you suffer from environmental allergies triggered by pollen or mold, the Cleveland Clinic recommends you limit the amount of time you spend in gardens and wooded areas. In addition, be mindful of the weather forecast and avoid going outside on windy days when pollen counts are high or on humid days when molds are more likely to flourish. If you must go outside and doing so will trigger your allergies, wear a painter's mask that will cover your nose and mouth while you are out and take a shower when you arrive home to wash away pollen that may have collected in your hair.
  
  

At Schools

• It is up to parents to make a school aware of her child's allergy problems, so the school can assist with allergen management. A parent should make sure the school nurse has an inhaler if the child experiences asthma as an allergy symptom. In addition, a child's teachers, cafeteria and school nurse must be made aware of any food allergies, so the particular ingredient is not brought into the classroom or served in a child's lunch.