Mice are animals in the Muridae family of rodents. Other animals in this family include gerbils and rats. There is only 1 allergen associated with an allergy to mice, this includes their hair, dander (which is flakes of dry skin), urine and saliva.

Mus m 1 are lipocalin proteins, in other animal dander allergies this is the protein that most individuals react to. These proteins transport molecules like lipids and steroids around the body.

Symptoms of an allergy to mice might include contact allergic dermatitis, rhinoconjunctivitis, rhinitis and worsening symptoms of asthma.

It can be a difficult allergy to manage as you cannot control the cleanliness of public places like schools and colleges. Dealing with any mice problem you may have at home can reduce your symptoms. This would include regular cleaning, making sure there is not food or crumbs around to be scavenged and blocking off entry points for the rodents.

Allergy to mouse dander is strongly strongly associated with allergic rhinitis as well as asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis.

A mouse allergy can be strongly linked to other animal allergies due to the lipocalin proteins. There is evidence of cross reactivity due to this protein with cockroaches, cows, dogs, guinea pigs, horses, cats, hamsters, rabbits and rats.

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