Pet/bird allergies can manifest in a variety of ways: itchy and red skin, watery eyes, nasal congestion and sneezing, difficulty breathing, coughing, and even headaches. What to do if you are incompatible with your favorite animal? Any therapist will immediately refer you to a consultation with an allergist.

How to get rid of cat allergies

But I want to warn you that as soon as you see an allergist, in 100% of cases you will hear the unequivocal and categorical: “Get rid of the animal”! All! No allergist in his right mind and memory would ever take on the responsibility of suggesting anything different, especially when it comes to allergies in children. Any allergy sufferer you know with a pet will confirm this.

In 99% of cases, the allergist will not offer specific hyposensitization, a method of accustoming the body to an allergen, which currently works more or less consistently only in the case of allergies to plants (usually pollen), and not at all to animals. But with all this, if you have an allergy to an animal for the first time or its manifestations have changed, you should go to the doctor. It is possible that the allergy will not be an allergy, but something else. There are a lot of diseases with symptoms similar to allergies. Moreover, it is possible that the diagnosis will be confirmed, but the cause will not be an animal, but your new washing powder. And that would be great news, right?

Then, the allergist will give you the indispensable threat advice: refuse to keep the animal (of course, do not throw it out into the street, but give it into good hands).

IN FACT

Sorry, no! In this matter, I represent three interested parties: an allergist-immunologist (candidate of medical sciences in allergology and immunology, if anyone is interested in rattles), an allergy sufferer (yes, severe, yes, with an allergy to animals) and an animal lover with no the tiniest experience of their maintenance. And here's what I'll tell you about this:

AN ANIMAL CAN “CURE” YOU FROM YOUR ALLERGY TO ITSELF!

There is such a thing as spontaneous specific hyposensitization in an animal. But this is far from exotic, although, of course, it does not work in 100% of cases. The gist of it is this: when an animal first comes into your home, for the first few days the reaction is extremely strong. Conjunctivitis, rash, allergic rhinitis, some even have an exacerbation of asthma or its debut. But after 3-4 days, allergy symptoms subside, and after 2-3 weeks they disappear almost completely. And what with antihistamines (these are allergy medications) and without them! There are two simple mechanisms at work here.

MECHANISM ONE. WE BITE, LICK AND SCRATCH!

It is especially effective in the case of rats and cats. Rats slightly and almost imperceptibly, and cats and especially kittens, when playing, sometimes very noticeably, cause wounds on the skin with their claws. Thus, the allergen gets under the skin - the very particles that cause your allergy to the animal, and the subcutaneous injection of a natural, specific allergen is the essence of the specific hyposensitization method!

Moreover, unlike plant allergens, animal allergens are much more “individual” and less resistant to various types of preservation, which is why the same treatment from a doctor in the form of subcutaneous injections of pure allergen gives a much lower success rate. And here are natural allergens, fresh, without any preservation, and specifically from your animal.

MECHANISM SECOND. QUANTITY TRANSFERS TO QUALITY

Another possible method, though still exotic, of treating allergies is based on this mechanism. The fact is that allergies most often develop according to the principle of “a slightly harmless substance - and not with food, but on the skin and mucous membranes.” I'm simplifying, greatly simplifying, please don't use this as a description of the pathogenesis of allergies, okay? But the point is that when a pet appears, its allergens become not just a little, but quite a lot, and they get not only on the skin, even if you are not in the habit of licking your cat or dog. At a certain moment, a “click” occurs and the immune system understands that there seem to be too many of these particles and they enter the body in all ways, which means they are already showing signs of an allergen. And the allergic response fades away.

PRACTICAL TIPS

So, if you really got an animal and want to live with it, but you or your relatives are allergic to it, do not rush to part with it. I’m not talking about those who first got a “toy” for themselves or their child, then discovered that the puppy pees on the carpet and chews shoes, and the kitten tears up the furniture, and decided to get rid of the source of the problems under a plausible pretext.

I'm talking about those who really want to be with their animal. Don't rush. Go to an allergist, if this is the first time, nod, then buy antihistamines and just wait 2-3 weeks - slightly, but not completely limiting contact with the animal. Unless, of course, the symptoms are dangerous, that is, there are no attacks of suffocation (asthma or allergic edema).

The allergy may, indeed may, greatly decrease or even disappear on its own. True, after returning home after a vacation or business trip, you may have to suffer a little again, but the secondary reaction will be calmer and quieter. You may completely lose your allergy to your cat, but still have a reaction to other people's cats. Sometimes, however, it decreases even on strangers, it happens in different ways. By the way, if you get a second cat, the reaction will be much weaker, and the third one, you will be surprised, will quite possibly appear in your house as if you had never been allergic to cats.

WARNINGS

The only thing that darkens the idyll I described: even if you have dust and animal hair in clumps on all surfaces at home, and your allergies don’t even bother you, you still have to live with some restrictions. The main thing is the bed. The second is the face. If there was an allergy, and a strong one, it is better to never let the animal on bedding or on your clothes (I mean those that are in direct contact with the body, that is, the wrong side, not the front side of things and mainly intimate wardrobe).

Also, do not bury your face in the warm fluffy side of the animal and do not touch your face immediately after contact with it. However, there is no need to wash your hands a hundred times a day after each contact. Firstly, you will suffer, and, secondly, there is no point in this - you have exactly the same amount of allergens on your hands as on all the objects in the apartment with the animal. Therefore, just after washing your hands, touch your palm to something, for example, a door handle, and your efforts will be in vain.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE FRESH SCIENCE

It sounds paradoxical, but it is a fact: the more animals there are in the house, the less allergies children have and the calmer it is.

This observation is described within the framework of hygiene theory. The theory is relatively recent, somewhere in the mid-90s. This means that 99% of allergists in Russia either know nothing about it or know almost nothing. I hope that I will not break anyone’s heart if I modestly remind you that we are taught from Russian textbooks, which are outdated on average by 5–10 years, or from translated textbooks (more rarely), which are outdated by the same minimum 3–5 years as a result of translation and editing? In the best case scenario. Well, add to this the age of the doctor, that is, how long ago he listened to lectures. Well, add to this the almost universal ignorance of English, which is necessary to read articles on your topic in the original. Well, add to this the lack of urgent need for a doctor to constantly read strictly scientific articles that are loosely related to his direct practice. No, even a very, very, very good clinical allergist, most likely, has never heard of any such hygienic theory, alas. So I warned you.

WHO CAN LIVE WELL IN RUSSIA? STATISTICS

However, facts are stubborn things. All over the world, the incidence of allergies and autoimmune diseases is increasing (this is also the result of an error in the immune system, but different). But for some reason they grow exclusively in developed countries. And for some reason it is much stronger in cities than in rural areas, both in the same country and in the world. People have long been interested in this fact and are trying to unearth the patterns and causes of growth. There were a lot of ideas, for example, all kinds of chemistry in the air and especially in food.

This also matters, who can argue, but it does not fit with the fact that the poorest peasants, who work in the fields with terribly harmful fertilizers every day, and the urban poor, who consume a full range of chemical nasty things in their food, for some reason suffer from allergies much less often. And the richest “city dwellers,” even if they raise their children in country cottages in the freshest air and on the purest, most expensive products, that is, in excellent conditions, often get this allergy in their children. How so?

EVOLUTION AND TECHNICAL PROGRESS

The reason was found simultaneously in several countries, then checked and double-checked, retrospective (digging into history) and prospective (observing several years) studies were carried out, on small groups and on huge populations. The fact is that the technical revolution has overtaken the natural one very strongly and sharply. We have long been able, without straining, to keep a child in almost sterile conditions, and the immune system is still confident that after birth he will be wrapped in a dirty flea-infested skin and placed on the ground infested with worms and worm eggs, which the child, as soon as he learns to crawl, will Will definitely put it in your mouth. And immediately he will eat earth, and worms, and fleas, and the remains of poop of an unimaginable number of various creatures, and then he will drink water, in which not only fish eat. Well, in general, I think I painted a fairly clear picture?

After birth, the newborn’s immune system is, yes, weak, yes, immature, but it is ready to meet enemies. There are many, many dangerous enemies that must penetrate from everywhere, especially through the skin and mucous membranes. But somehow there are no enemies, because the mother is usually good: she irons the diapers on both sides with an iron and disinfects everything the baby touches. And this is where the “failure” occurs. We need to find the enemy, he definitely exists, he cannot but exist!

And the immune system takes harmless and, by default, usually harmless substances as enemies: certain food components, as well as things that are impossible to get rid of even in a modern apartment - dust, house dust mites and their remains, microscopic various fungi, plant pollen, all sorts of tiny remains household chemicals, specks of fluff and feathers from pillows, and so on. Only considering that these particles actually do not harm anyone and somehow do not think of multiplying in the body, a modified response is triggered - not as an infection, but an allergic one. Again, I have grossly simplified the description and it should not be used instead of a scientific article on hygienic theory, okay? Otherwise one of the scientists will shoot me.

HYGIENE IS, Alas, NOT ONLY A GOOD thing

In general, the picture turns out like this: the higher the level of hygiene in the population, the higher the incidence of allergies and autoimmunity, the more severe the allergies. But we can’t put children in the dirt and feed them earth to improve their health, right? And here pets suddenly turned out to be a salvation. In families where there were pets in the first five years of life, the number of children with allergies was sharply reduced. And the more animals there were (or the larger they were in size), the less allergies there were!

Moreover, an animal in the house in the first year of a child’s life turned out to be the most effective “cure” for allergies in these children in the future, from the second to the fifth year of life - less effective, and after the fifth year of life it practically did not matter whether there was an animal in the family or not . The coincidence of statistics with the timing of “training” of the immune system prompted scientists to study this mechanism further.

In general, to put it simply, the presence of an animal in the house leads to the accumulation of its fur, particles of skin, saliva and even the remains of feces, excuse me, in the air and on all objects. All this grace goes to the baby, and his immune system has something to do! She trains herself in the correct mechanisms of response to infection and to harmless substances, hones the necessary reactions on incoming material, and does not look for enemies where there are none.

ANOTHER PRACTICAL CONCLUSION

In fact, these observations noted that helminthic infestation in early childhood also sharply reduces all allergic manifestations later, because in fact, the main enemy of allergy sufferers, IgE, was historically formed as a way to fight worms. But worms are still not at all as harmless as fur and dog and cat drool, so let’s do without fanaticism.

In general, speaking seriously, do you want a child without allergies? Then keep a cat, five cats, a big slobbering furry dog ​​at home, and let them lick the baby’s hands, and let them scatter fur on his crib and clothes, especially in the first year of life. However, I warn you that for another 10–15 years, pediatricians and allergists will tell you that you are disgusting parents, that you should urgently remove the animal from the house, and so on. Well, if you can’t withstand the pressure of doctors who, naturally, want the best, then move your child out of town for at least the first three years. There, in any case, he will crack the earth, and the grass on which no one has crawled, and flies will also run over him, and the wind will bring into the window all the nasty things his immune system needs, which a clean person doesn’t even want to think about.

Cat Allergy: A Revolutionary Perspective

Cats are domestic animals that have been human companions since ancient times. It would seem what problems may arise in their maintenance if you dream of a purring, and, for the most part, unpretentious friend. However, often the path to great friendship between a person and a cat gets in the way of an unpleasant illness that brings a lot of discomfort - an allergy to cats. In this material we will talk about whether this diagnosis will be a death sentence, whether allergy to cats can be cured and how to minimize the damage from contact with the allergen.

As you know, allergy to animals is a disease that occurs quite often. Unfortunately, among all the lovers of our little brothers, it is the “cat lovers” who are completely unlucky, since, according to statistics:

• cat allergy is the second most common cause that provokes the release of antibodies in humans;
• There are as many as two times as many people who react to cats as there are people who sneeze, cough and blow their nose when in contact with dogs.

According to statistics, dogs are much less likely to cause an allergic reaction in humans compared to cats.

However, it must be said that these disappointing statistics are not a death sentence. Allergies to cats can and should be fought. After carefully studying our article, you will learn how to do this.

Symptoms and signs of cat allergies

Unfortunately, a person who is allergic to cats can react to the irritant regularly even if there are no mustachioed pets in his home. The thing is that allergy symptoms can also manifest themselves due to contact with an irritant that comes to you:

• from the clothes of people who have previously come into contact with the animal;
• upon contact with animal utensils;
• upon contact with cat hair in a room where there is no longer a cat, etc.

The mechanism of manifestation of an allergic reaction to cats is such that it makes itself felt quite quickly, almost immediately after contact with the irritant. By the way, contrary to popular opinion, the desired irritant is not the fur itself, but:

• secretion from skin glands;
• animal urine;
• skin particles;
• saliva.

Of all the items listed below, saliva is the most potent allergen. Unfortunately, a person can come into contact with it even when stroking the animal, since cats are known for their cleanliness, which means constantly licking contaminated areas:

• wool;
• skin.

Provided that your reaction to cats can be described as weak, symptoms after contact with the animal may manifest themselves only after a few days.

Please note: The intensity of the reaction may also depend not only on your predisposition, but also on the gender of the animal:

• cats are considered less allergenic;
• the most serious reaction occurs after contact with a cat.

Let's now move on to consider the symptoms and consequences that occur in allergy sufferers who react to cats. Thus, the following reactions occur most frequently.

1. Swelling of the nasopharynx.
2. Swelling of the nasal mucosa and congestion.
3. Pain when swallowing.
4. Itching and burning of the mucous membranes of the eyes.
5. Profuse lacrimation.
6. Sneezing.
7. Itching in the nose area.
8. Redness of the skin of the face and other parts of the body.
9. The rash is itchy and painful when scratched.
10. Cough.

Such familiar and habitual manifestations for all allergy sufferers as coughing, sneezing, sore throat, in this case will be caused by the so-called postnasal drip, in which secreted mucous fluids flow into the lower levels of the respiratory system due to the occurrence of processes of inflammatory etiology in:

• nasopharynx;
• sinuses;
• right on the nose.

In other words, allergies can easily be confused with a common cold or an acute respiratory viral infection.

You need to understand how to distinguish an allergic reaction from a cold

However, you should understand that if you have the following signs, you can be absolutely sure that you got sick and did not react to the animal:

• with an increase in body temperature;
• when chills occur;
• provided that you feel sick and even vomit.

Allergies essentially manifest themselves when an irritant enters the human body. There, special antibodies begin to fight back against allergens. It is their struggle that causes the symptoms to appear.

So, for example, when an allergen enters the lungs, passing through the respiratory tract, antibody binding begins, causing:

• cough;
• guttural whistle and wheezing;
• heavy breathing, etc.

Please note: The disease we are interested in can seriously complicate the lives of people suffering from asthma. The fact is that cat skin, fur, hair and other parts of their body easily provoke an acute attack of suffocation, which even in a not too sick person can transfer the disease to a chronic form. Thus, almost a third of asthmatics who come into contact with the animals of interest to us most often suffer a serious attack.

It should also be noted that it can actually be difficult for a person who constantly lives with cats to identify the cause of the sudden onset of allergies. However, to be fair, dust mites, for example, can also cause manifestations similar to the reactions described above, so do not rush to blame your pet for your illness.

Only an allergist can give an accurate verdict on your compatibility with a mustachioed friend, who, using special tests, can determine substances that are irritants for you.

However, the cause of the health disorder will be quite understandable if, after taking your pet in your arms, you begin:

• sneeze;
• feel itchy throat and cough;
• feel burning and itching of the skin of the face;
• shed tears and feel your eyes burning;
• suffer from nasal congestion, etc.

In addition, a clear indication that you have an allergy will be a skin reaction in the place where the animal you:

• lick;
• scratches;
• will bite.

Hives - a reaction to contact with cat saliva

As a rule, redness and slight swelling immediately occur at the site of contact of the allergen with the skin.

Diagnosis of cat allergies

To be sure that you are on the list of those unfortunate people who are allergic to cats, you should conduct a medical diagnosis. Thus, you have several options for implementing your plan. We will look at which ones exactly in the table below.

Table 1. Methods for diagnosing an allergic reaction to cats

Blood test

Skin test

Taking blood for analysis to determine allergies is most often performed in those patients who, for various reasons, cannot undergo a skin test. The most common obstacles to this are: age category of the potential allergy sufferer; the health status of the person being tested. In the desired situation, the main biological fluid of a person – his blood – is taken for laboratory testing. How will a person be identified as an allergy sufferer in this case? Here's how: the blood taken for analysis is examined for the presence of specific antibodies, which are released subsequently by the body's negative reaction to the irritant - cat saliva

This test is carried out much more often, at least because it costs much less than the analysis of red biological fluid. In addition, another advantage is that it takes much less time to process the results of skin testing. There are two types of the test in question: applying an irritant to the surface of the epidermis; introduction of an irritant in the form of an injection into the inner layers of the skin. The required testing is carried out by a doctor who professionally works with allergic reactions. His specialty has the same name - allergist. The test should be carried out exclusively within a specially designated room, the conditions within which are selected in such a way as to minimize the development of various types of complications. Provided that you have chosen to test the allergen on the surface of the skin, the doctor will do the following: will pierce or lightly scratch your skin several times with a special medical instrument called a scarifier (this is necessary so that the allergen comes into contact with the body faster and more clearly); will apply to the damaged skin surface either a potentially allergenic substance or a non-allergenic composition needed for control testing. How can you then understand that you still have an allergy? It’s very simple: if the verdict is positive, the following will appear at the injection site: redness; swelling; irritation; feeling of severe itching; slight soreness. All unpleasant sensations arising from contact with the allergen disappear within half an hour after they are applied to the damaged surface of the skin or introduced into it

When visiting an allergist, it is much more beneficial to do several irritant tests at a time. The additional payment will be small, and will certainly be less than what you will have to pay when you contact the specialist we are interested in again. However, the allergist himself will probably suggest that you do just that.

Please note a very important fact: provided that you are constantly taking any medications or have recently taken the medication, you must inform your allergist about this. The fact is that in some cases, taking medications of different categories is an obstacle to testing, since the results obtained will be unreliable.

How to get rid of cat allergies forever?

Despite the fact that you won’t be able to get rid of allergies to mustachioed pets, you have the opportunity to alleviate it for yourself by about 90% out of 100%.

To do this, you will have to work hard and study the following questions:

• what measures to prevent an allergic reaction should be observed;
• what medications will help prevent an allergy attack;
• a list of home remedies to help combat a violent reaction of the immune system to cats;
• implementation of independent allergen-specific immunotherapy.

As you can see, the list is extensive. From which side to approach it, read in this section below.

Medicines to combat allergies

Let's look at a list of remedies that will help you eliminate not only the reaction to the animal itself, but also its clinical manifestations.

Table 2. Medicines intended to eliminate allergy to cats and its symptoms

Effective means	Names
Antihistamines	These medications are designed to block histamine receptors in the human body. Histamine is a biologically active chemical that is activated when irritant allergens enter the body and has a negative effect on: skin; respiratory system; digestive system; heart and blood vessels, etc. Among the agents that most effectively block this neurotransmitter are: "Claritin"; "Tavegil"; "Suprastin"; "Diphenhydramine", etc. By taking these remedies, you can prevent potential allergy attacks.
Nasal drops and sprays	To eliminate nasal swelling, itching, snot and other unpleasant manifestations of allergies, it is recommended to use various nasal sprays and drops that contain so-called corticosteroids - hormones that help cope with the symptoms that torment you. "Nasonex"; "Nazarel"; "Momentazon", etc. The drugs in question are also used to prevent allergic rhinitis or asthma.
Inhalers	Another remedy that helps to successfully eliminate the symptoms of allergy to cats is inhalers sold in the form of sprays. Provided that you feel approaching spasms in the bronchi, you will need to use the following medications: "Kromospir"; "Ifiral"; "Krom-aller"; "Intal"
Bronchodilators	It is necessary to dilate the bronchi in case of severe allergies to cats to avoid rhinitis, and subsequently, an attack. In this case, medications such as: "Singlon"; "Singular"; "Montelar"; "Montelukast", etc.

Now that we have dealt with the essential components of the first aid kit for an allergy sufferer who is forced to come into contact with cats, let’s move on to consider the next way to overcome a reaction to a beloved pet.

Allergen-specific immunotherapy

Carrying out desensitization, that is, turning off your sensitivity to an irritant, can help you get rid of not only a mild allergy to an animal, but also from an attack of bronchial asthma that haunts you upon contact with it. Interesting fact: the only category of reactions for which this method has not shown any effectiveness at all is food allergies.

Another effective way to overcome a reaction to cats is to take a desensitization course.

So how does this method work? It’s very simple: a person who wants to say goodbye to sneezing, snot, toothache and discomfort once and for all must be in contact with the irritant for a specific time, each time increasing its dose. In this way, you simply force the immune system to rebuild itself in a new way.

The human body is an amazing phenomenon. We are not aware of most of the processes going on in him, but he, meanwhile, understands exactly how you need to adjust in order to get used to it:

• to constant cold;
• extreme heat;
• exotic food;
• new time;
• high altitude;
• allergen, etc.

However, in the case of cats and reactions to them, desensitization can be equally successful or unsuccessful. If you are determined to see results, be prepared for the fact that immunotherapy may take several years.

Please note an important fact: this specific treatment should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of physicians and in conditions specially designed for this purpose, for example, at a medical institution. The fact is that even if the dose is selected correctly, at one point the patient may develop anaphylactic shock, which must be stopped immediately in order to save the patient’s life.

It is absolutely prohibited to subject children under five full years of age to this treatment. The fact is that their body’s resistance to stress at this age is extremely low.

Unconventional ways to eliminate cat allergies

Allergies can be cured not only with the help of medications and technologies. Folk tricks also contain a considerable amount of knowledge regarding the fight against this unpleasant disease. Let's look at the most popular of them.

Method 1. Rinse the nose with salt water. One of the most popular and effective ways to eliminate the consequences of an allergic reaction. So, passing through the nasal passages, the saline solution removes mucus from them, dries and stops the potential development of inflammation of the lower respiratory tract.

You can prepare such a cheap and effective solution at home using:

• plain salt (1 teaspoon);
• boiled water (250 milliliters or a glass).

If you feel discomfort when rinsing your nose, reduce the amount of salt to ¾ spoon.

Method 2. A decoction of a herb called butterbur. However, unfortunately, in its unprocessed form, this plant releases poisons that negatively affect liver tissue. You will not be able to process it yourself unless you have the appropriate skills, therefore, it is best to purchase this herb or products based on it at a pharmacy.

Method 3. Acupuncture. A popular procedure aimed at alleviating allergic reactions. However, in reality, its effectiveness has not been confirmed by medical research, despite the fact that the reviews of people who resort to it can be described as positive. Provided that you are a fan of experiments, you can turn to this exotic method.

Acupuncture helps relieve allergy symptoms

Preventing cat allergies

If you give up in advance and are not going to fight for your love for cats, then you should follow certain measures that will help prevent an allergic reaction. Let's look at them.

Rule 1. Do not come into close contact with cats, that is, do not:

• kiss them;
• don't hug them, etc.

This simple rule will help you avoid irritants, i.e. saliva, sebum, pieces of cat skin, etc.

Rule 2. Stop communicating with cat people or meet them in ventilated areas. No matter how radical this rule may sound, think for yourself: cat lovers will bring into your house on their clothes all the same parts of animals to which you react so violently. To avoid getting them inside your body, continue to communicate with friends who keep cats only in parks, on the streets, coffee shops, terraces, etc.

Rule 3. Before you are forced to visit friends or relatives who have animals, start taking antihistamines ahead of time and stock up on medications. Provided that you want to stay overnight as a guest, you need to ask your host several months in advance not to allow the cat into the room in which you plan to sleep.

Now let's look at the list of recommendations for those responsible and worthy people who cannot imagine life without their pets or are ready to bear responsibility for the creature they have tamed. Using these measures, you can minimize your reaction to stimuli.

Tip 1. Try not to let your pet into the bedroom. Yes, for some owners this measure seems incredibly cruel, but it is forced and it is better to use it. This will help reduce the number of allergens floating in the air.

Tip 2. Provided that you live in a country house surrounded by a fence, let your pet walk outside as often as he wants. Then there will be a minimum amount of hairs, pieces of skin and other irritants in your home.

Tip 3. After petting your cat, it is best to wash your hands immediately. Provided that you touch cat dishes and toys, you should also carry out this procedure.

Tip 4. Bathe your pet more often. This measure will remove sebaceous secretions and saliva from his fur and skin - the strongest irritants.

Tip 5. Remove carpets, napkins, and other dust collectors from the apartment that will only worsen your condition. The less textile coverings there are in your home, the better you will feel.

Tip 6. Wash thick carpets in hot water to remove stains. The same should be done with the floor; wash it with a mop soaked in warm water and a non-allergenic product.

Tip 7. Install an air purification device in your home, and ensure that the filters inside the air conditioner and heater are updated.

Tip 8. Also buy a humidifier and maintain the indoor humidity level at 40%.

Tip 9. When cleaning, wear a thick cloth mask.

Allergic reaction to a pet in a child

Is there a way to prevent allergies in a young child? Researchers on this issue say different things, however, there is an opinion that this is still possible. Provided that the cat lived in the apartment or house before the child was born, the baby is almost 100% protected from a negative reaction to it.

If your child began to come into contact with a cat at an early age, he may be susceptible to allergies, but much less than his peers who do not have any predisposition to this.

However, you should be careful if your child is an obvious allergy sufferer and his age reaches several years, the appearance of a cat may not alleviate his situation, but, on the contrary, lead to the development of various side effects that are extremely severe.

Hypoallergenic cats

If you know for sure that you suffer from cat allergies, but dream of becoming the owner of a furry miracle, pay attention to the following information.

Sphynxes are animals that have little or no fur.

According to studies conducted by allergists, there are no absolutely hypoallergenic cat breeds in nature. However, some of the representatives of this family produce an allergen, which is a specific protein, in smaller quantities than others.

Please note: a smaller amount still implies its production, but less intense. However, you still need to be careful, as even animals without hair continue to wash themselves with saliva.

So, here is a list of breeds that are suitable for living with allergies:

• Siberian cat;
• Cornish Rex;
• Bengal;
• colorpoint;
• Siamese;
• Devon Rex;
• oriental;
• Balinese;
• Russian blue.

All the breeds listed above look impressive, their representatives have extraordinary intelligence and love of humanity, so you can get along with them without any problems.

Let's sum it up

Allergy to cats is a disease that causes a lot of discomfort. However, we want to assure you that its presence is not a death sentence. There are many different ways to combat allergies. The most effective ones are described in our article.

A cat is a great animal that can become your companion, friend and family member. Such a pet is worth fighting off allergies

Before getting a cat, think about whether you can overcome all the obstacles on the way to unity with it and overcome allergies? If you already have an animal, there is nothing you can do. You have taken responsibility and now follow this path to the end. Perseverance and faith in the fight against allergies are the key to success.

Video - How to get rid of cat allergies?

Any allergist, upon confirming the diagnosis, will immediately advise you to exclude contact with a pet - donate it or give it to a shelter. But it’s a rare woman who is able to part with a pet that has long become a full-fledged member of the family. Therefore, pet owners are often interested in how to get rid of cat allergies using the most effective treatment methods.

Is it possible to get rid of cat allergies?

In essence, allergic reactions are disorders of the immune system. The exact reasons for their occurrence are still unknown; only the mechanisms of development have been established.

Usually it is impossible to completely eliminate allergies, only to reduce the severity of the response to the irritant and prevent the appearance of negative symptoms. But there are cases when the disease disappears on its own with a change in climate, place of residence and in the process of growing up.

What medications are used to treat allergies to cats?

For successful treatment of pathology, the following medications will be required:

1. Antihistamines:

• Loratadine;
• Zyrtec;
• Diazolin;
• Fenistil;
• Setastin;
• Telfast and others.

2. Sorbents:

• white or activated carbon;
• Atoxyl;
• Enterosgel;
• Polysorb.

3. Decongestants:

• Sudafed;
• Allgra-D.

4. Vasoconstrictor nasal aerosols:

• Nazol;
• Otrivin;
• Knoxprey.

5. Bronchodilators:

• Berodual;
• Salbutamol.

6. Corticosteroid hormones:

• Prednisolone;
• Dexamethasone.

In most cases, only antihistamines, vasoconstrictor sprays, etc. are sufficient; the rest of these remedies are recommended for severe symptoms.

How to get rid of cat allergies forever?

The most progressive and effective method is desensitization. It involves the systematic introduction of small doses of the allergen for 1-2 years with an injection frequency of 1 time in 3-6 months.

An alternative to this method is specific spontaneous desensitization. It may seem like a strange and dangerous technique, but research has proven its effectiveness. The essence of such desensitization roughly corresponds to the classic version, only instead of artificial introduction, natural contact with the stimulus is used - communication with a cat. In the first 3-5 days, allergy symptoms will be intense, after which they will gradually fade away, and after 2-4 weeks they will disappear altogether.

Of course, desensitization is not suitable for severe forms of pathology and does not guarantee a 100% cure.

In this life, no one is immune from cat allergies. It can be congenital or acquired. If you have already suffered from it, our advice will help you quickly and easily. But before reading about treatment methods, it is worth understanding the real cause of the disease. It turns out that it is not animal fur at all, but something else.

What Causes Cat Allergies

There is an opinion that cat hair causes an allergic reaction. We can say with confidence that it has nothing to do with it, although it still has a small share in the development of this process. Allergens are cat protein, which is contained in the animal’s excretions, namely:

• in urine;
• in feces;
• in saliva;
• in the smallest particles of skin.

This protein remains on everything your pet comes in contact with. Penetrating into the body, it attaches to tissues. With repeated contact, the allergen content increases, which causes a reaction from the immune system. Immunoglobulin is released, and this manifests itself in allergic reactions.

It is not necessary that only animal proteins can be the cause of the disease. If he walks outside, then his fur can carry a lot of allergens: dust, pollen. Based on the above, you can find ways to get rid of the manifestations of the disease without resorting to extreme measures. It is enough to monitor the cleanliness of your pet's fur.

How to quickly get rid of cat allergies without medications

If you do decide to keep your pet, you will have to take some measures. When already present cat allergy how to get rid of it from her - the list of recommendations below will help:

• prohibit the cat from entering your personal space (climb onto the bed, workplace);
• get rid of soft toys (dust collectors);
• remove all carpeting;
• do wet cleaning every day;
• Maintain cat hygiene.

Very often cats love to lie on the bed. At the same time, after thoroughly washing them, wool, skin particles, and saliva remain on the blankets and pillows. You are required not only to forbid sleeping on the bed, but also to enter this room. He should have his own permanent place, which will also be cleaned daily.

If you have soft toys and decorative pillows on your sofa or armchairs, you need to get rid of them. It is these things that always collect a lot of dust, hair, and dust mites, which is the source of allergic reactions.

Every home must have carpets and rugs. This is a real dust collector. The fibers of carpets retain tiny particles that are invisible to the naked eye, including waste products from your cat. It is necessary to either remove all carpeting or vacuum it regularly.

Daily wet cleaning should not be neglected. It is advisable to wash floors with disinfectants. Try to ventilate the room more often.

It is also necessary to monitor your pet's hygiene. Cats love cleanliness and constantly lick their fur, leaving the cause of your allergy on it. Therefore, you need to bathe the animal at least twice a week. Keep his dishes and toilet clean. Naturally, you need to entrust this to someone who does not have allergic reactions to cats.

What is the treatment for cat allergies?

More and more people are turning to medical institutions with allergies. According to WHO, about 15% of the population suffers from reactions to cats of varying severity. Naturally, the majority sets a goal: to completely get rid of this unpleasant disease once and for all and leave the animal at home.

If appeared cat allergy how to get rid of it The following three steps will help:

• Diagnostics.
• Prescribing effective drug treatment.
• Prevention.

If the disease does appear, treatment should begin with a visit to an allergist. He is obliged to prescribe additional studies and treatment. An allergy test is done on the back by injecting a concentrated allergen into a scratch on the skin. Based on the reaction, a diagnosis is made. If the application site is swollen and red, then there is an allergy to the cat.

Drug treatment: types of medications for cat allergies

To this day, a universal cure for the symptoms of reaction to cats has not yet been invented. All you have to do is take the same medications as for any other allergy. When treating this disease it is recommended:

• antihistamines.
• corticosteroids.
• decongestants and symptomatic treatment.

Let's consider the main types of drugs in more detail: when, why and which of them are prescribed.

The action of antihistamines is based on reducing the amount of histamine that is produced when an allergen enters the human body. And the second purpose of these drugs is to neutralize histamine, which has already begun to act. It should be noted that these drugs cannot completely cure cat allergies.

The medical industry produces a lot of antiallergic drugs with various effects. Suprastin and Diphenhydramine have long been widely used. But in addition to relieving allergic symptoms, these drugs also have side effects. They cause drowsiness and have excessive sedative properties. Therefore, these medications are not suitable for everyone. For example, they should not be used by drivers or people whose work requires a high concentration of attention.

These drugs have been replaced by more modern antiallergic drugs. These are Claretin, Cetrin, Loratadine, etc. They help relieve redness, swelling, itching and do not affect concentration and mental abilities. Usually, antihistamines are enough to relieve the symptoms of an allergic reaction. If not, then additional decongestant treatment and corticosteroids are prescribed.

Corticosteroids are the name of a class of hormones that are produced by the adrenal cortex. Currently, a lot of synthetic corticosteroids are produced that are used to treat allergic manifestations. They suppress inflammatory processes in the body for a while, but have no effect on the infection. After stopping taking these drugs, the infection manifests itself with renewed vigor. When there is an allergy to cats, not everyone knows how to get rid of it and only uses corticosteroids.

They are available in different types:

• Ointments.
• Pills.
• Drops.
• Creams.
• Solutions in ampoules.

When treating allergies to cats, all forms of the drug are used, depending on the symptoms of allergic manifestations. For skin rashes and dermatitis, the use of ointments (Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Lorinden, etc.) is prescribed. For allergic rhinitis, Nazarel and Fluticasone are used. The positive effect of use is observed after 2-4 hours and is expressed in a decrease in swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa and cessation of itching in the nose.

But it should be remembered that long-term use of corticosteroids of synthetic origin is addictive and has a depressing effect on the adrenal glands. The production of hormones by the adrenal cortex can be significantly reduced, which will affect health. Therefore, only the attending physician prescribes the timing of treatment with corticosteroids.

To get rid of nasal congestion, decongestants are prescribed: Sudafed, Afrinol, Vibrocil, etc. It should be understood that nasal drops do not treat allergic manifestations. They only relieve swelling of the mucous membrane. Since almost all decongestant drugs contain amphetamine-like components, irritability, excitability, and cardiovascular disorders are noted during treatment with them.

Probably everyone loves to play with their pet and scratch him behind the ear. But not all cats like this display of love and care. Sometimes they show aggression towards you: they bite, scratch.

Very often, allergic manifestations occur at the sites of cat bites or scratches. In this case, it is necessary to treat the wound and apply symptomatic treatment. An antiseptic or wound healing agent, for example, Solcoseryl, is applied to the wounds. To improve the general condition, anti-inflammatory drugs are used.

Traditional medicine treatment

Traditional medicine recipes should not be neglected to reduce the manifestations of allergic reactions to cats. This can be an addition to the main treatment. But still, if Allergy to cats discovered how to get rid of it Only a doctor can advise her. Otherwise, you can harm your body and complicate the disease.

There are many tips on how to alleviate the disease with the help of herbal preparations. You need to use only proven recipes that were passed down from ancestor to ancestor by word of mouth:

• tincture of string - helps relieve itching and inflammation of the skin when wiped with a warm solution.
• infusions of chamomile and calendula will remove allergic conjunctivitis.
• motherwort infusion - rinsing helps relieve inflammation of the nasopharynx.
• celery juice: drink a tablespoon three times a day.

The use of complex treatment will help you get rid of allergies to cats and peacefully coexist with them in the same apartment.

Preventing cat allergies

To prevent a relapse of the disease, it is necessary to take preventive measures. It assumes:

• Diet
• Avoidance of factors that cause a malfunction of the immune system (stressful situations, poor diet, indiscriminate use of medications).

Each type of allergy has its own diet. In addition to an immunologist, you must also visit a nutritionist. The correct selection of nutritional components is the key to your health. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Drink fresh juices, buy less products containing preservatives and chemical additives.

Spend more time outdoors and go on picnics outside the city more often, away from industrial areas. Do not take self-prescribed medications. Consultation with a doctor is required.

If all the measures taken to treat and prevent allergies to your pet do not bring the desired result, then, sadly, you will have to part with it. Try, first, to at least temporarily give it to relatives or friends.

Pay attention to how you feel. If there is no improvement, you should think about the fact that it is not the cat who is to blame for all your troubles. Analyze in which cases the condition worsens and in which vice versa. Perhaps the reason will appear on its own.

By the way, many scientists claim that one method of preventing cat allergies is the cats themselves. With constant contact with them, a strong immunity to their allergens is developed.

Four-legged pets can brighten up any day, even the most unpleasant one. In our country, approximately 60% of people keep cats at home. But not everyone has this opportunity - some know from childhood that they can’t have a furry friend because of allergies. Symptoms of an allergy to cats accompany some people throughout their lives, while in others the body gradually gets used to the allergen.

In any case, you need to be able to recognize a negative reaction to furry friends and take the right measures in time to avoid ending up in the hospital.

An allergy is a negative reaction of the immune system to a substance that does not cause any changes in the condition of a healthy person. While the antibodies produced by the immune system try to cope with the problem, the cells of the substance that caused the negative reaction contribute to the occurrence of itching, runny nose, cough and other symptoms.

Contrary to popular belief, an allergy to cats does not occur because of their fur - even completely hairless Sphynx cats can make them sneeze and itch, including if they are not touched with hands. Animal hairs are only a good carrier of the real threat - the protein produced by the sebaceous glands. In addition, the allergen is found in saliva, urine and dander (dead skin cells of the cat).

Allergic reactions, including those to animals, have not yet been fully studied by doctors, so some facts have to be taken for granted. Allergies can develop in a person of any age, but most often children are susceptible to this due to a weak immune system. As you get older, the likelihood of this happening decreases.

Interesting! Often, a cat allergy goes hand in hand with a reaction to dust, pollen or mold.

Cat allergies are often hereditary. If one of the parents or other blood relatives could not be in the same room with animals, then there is a high probability that the child will have the same intolerance. Therefore, before getting a cat in a house where there are children, you need to make sure that they do not have allergies.

How to find out the irritant and why food may be to blame

In the same way that an allergy to cats manifests itself, other irritants also affect the body. Therefore, it is not a fact that the negative reaction is associated with the pet. Cat fur is generally a universal carrier of various small particles invisible to the eye, so if an allergy occurs suddenly, and before you freely communicated with four-legged friends, it makes sense to check what exactly the body perceives as a threat.

This is especially true for those owners who let their pet roam outside freely. On its fur, a cat can bring dust, fluff, mold particles, pollen and other substances into the house that have a high level of allergenicity. In this case, before finding out whether you are allergic to cats for sure, it makes sense to leave the animal “under house arrest” for several days, after washing it with a special shampoo.

Sometimes a negative reaction of the body occurs not to the cat itself, but to its food. Manufacturers of dry formulas for feeding pets often use meat production waste and chemical additives. This is especially true for cheap food. Symptoms of a cat food allergy are limited to a skin rash after exposure to the formula. There may be two ways out - either choose food that will not harm the cat itself and will not cause allergies in its owners, or switch the pet to natural food.

Another possible source of the allergen is cat litter. As with food, cheap brands are especially dangerous. An allergy to litter can manifest itself in the form of rhinitis, cough or skin rashes, and usually occurs after contact with the tray. In this case, you will have to experiment with different brands, having previously purchased antihistamines. It’s best to try an eco-friendly filler right away. If an allergy occurs to all brands, then the only way out is to accustom the cat to the toilet.

How it manifests itself

Usually, those who have an allergy to furry friends began in childhood do not have to explain how it manifests itself. Experiments are carried out with childish tenacity - a child strokes different cats to find out whether his parents are deceiving him by refusing to have a four-legged pet. And almost every time a little allergy sufferer becomes convinced that making friends with animals is not a good idea.

Important! Allergies do not always appear upon first contact with a cat. Often, the immune system first recognizes the allergen and “transmits” to all cells of the body that the substance that has entered it is dangerous. A fully negative reaction usually occurs after the second contact with the animal.

Let's look at how an allergy to a cat manifests itself when rhinitis occurs:

• nasal congestion;
• itching around or inside the nose;
• runny nose;
• sneezing;
• dry mucous membranes.

If you do not immediately stop contact with the animal and take the appropriate medicine, swelling and redness of the skin in the nose area gradually occurs. The congestion may then spread to the ears.

Allergic conjunctivitis often occurs along with rhinitis. Let's look at what symptoms of a cat allergy appear in this case:

• redness of the eyes;
• swelling in the eye area;
• profuse lacrimation;
• sensation of a foreign body (“a speck has gotten into the eye”);
• temporary visual impairment.

Also, if cats are intolerant, allergic bronchitis can occur. It manifests itself as a cough, sore throat or bronchi, shortness of breath, and a feeling of heaviness in the lungs. If an allergy sufferer's contact with cats occurs frequently, then bronchitis can develop into bronchial asthma.

Let's look at how to determine if you have a cat allergy through skin reactions to a protein produced by the animal or to food/litter. Symptoms:

• itching at the site of contact with the allergen;
• pimples or blisters filled with fluid;
• skin redness;
• peeling of the skin.

In addition to specific symptoms, cat allergies may cause general deterioration of the condition. A person may feel their temperature rise, although in fact it remains the same. Also, after contact with an animal, allergy sufferers often feel weak and drowsy, constantly want to cry, everyone around them is annoying, and they don’t want to work even more than usual.

Usually, an allergy to cats appears immediately after contact with them - 2-3 minutes are enough for your eyes to start watering and an irresistible urge to sneeze. If no action is taken, the symptoms will intensify, becoming most intense after 2-3 hours.

Important! Symptoms of a cat allergy can worsen to the point of angioedema and anaphylactic shock. These conditions are deadly.

How to determine medically

Instead of bravely rushing at the furry embrasure, trying to find out whether it is to blame, it is better to take a test - this is the most reliable way to determine allergies to cats and other irritants. Ideally, it should be done in childhood to learn what to avoid in everyday life. A photo of the cat allergy test is shown below:

The skin test goes like this: the specialist makes several scratches with a sterile needle on the forearm, then a small amount of a solution containing the allergen is applied to each of them. Within 15-20 minutes, the skin reaction to each composition is assessed, and as a result, a conclusion is made about the presence or absence of an allergy.

If the reaction manifests itself in the form of rhinitis or conjunctivitis, then the solution can be instilled into the nose or eyes, monitoring the body's response. You can also donate blood to determine the immune system's response in a laboratory setting.

How to get rid of it temporarily

Antiallergic drugs are available for free sale in pharmacies - drops, sprays, tablets, capsules and other dosage forms. But if you are looking for options on how to cure cat allergies forever, then all of the above will not help - it only relieves the symptoms.

Typically, an allergist will prescribe the following medications to help a patient get relief from their cat allergy for a short period of time.

• Decongestants. This is an auxiliary therapy that reduces the severity of the skin reaction. Such drugs do not affect the human condition.
• Antihistamines. These medications are most often prescribed. They help block chemical reactions in the body that cause allergic symptoms. For greater effectiveness, it is necessary to stop contact with the animal as quickly as possible.
• Hormonal. These drugs are prescribed by a doctor as local therapy for severe forms of allergies. Hormonal drugs are dispensed from pharmacies with a prescription.

To alleviate the condition after contact with a cat, you can rinse your nose with a saline solution or rinse with seawater spray. The eyes can be washed with chamomile decoction, and compresses with solutions based on mint, sage and other soothing herbs can be applied to the skin. Next, we will look at whether cat allergies can be cured completely.

Is it possible to get rid of it forever?

Treatment for cat allergies is not always possible. Sometimes the body heals itself if there are any serious changes, for example, during puberty. There are also cases where an allergic person got used to his cat, that is, he had to endure the symptoms and constantly take pills for several weeks, but then he could even sleep on the same pillow with his pet.

When trying to understand how to cure cat allergies, such experiments should not be carried out intentionally, as this can end in failure, even death.

There is only one sure way to get rid of cat allergies– undergo a drug course of allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT). During it, the patient is administered a substance containing the allergen in a small concentration, in the form of subcutaneous injections. Gradually, the body gets used to it, and the immune system ceases to regard it as an enemy.

Treatment of allergies to cats using a course of ASIT lasts several months, and the frequency of injections decreases over time - at first injections are given every day, then less and less often. As a result, you can either get rid of cat allergies forever or get zero results.

Yes, even this measure does not always help. In most cases, the allergy does subside and gives a person the opportunity to fully communicate with representatives of the cat family, but in some cases the severity of symptoms only decreases.

Should I keep a pet?

If the options for treating cat allergies have been exhausted, then the surest way to protect yourself from a negative reaction is to avoid contact with animals. Even if you really want to bring home a fluffy purr, you shouldn’t stress either yourself or her, because there is a chance that you won’t be able to come to terms with the allergy, and the cat will have to look for a new home.

If the family already has a four-legged friend and the reaction appeared suddenly, although it had not happened before, then you should think about giving the cat to friends or finding new owners. Cat allergies are not always curable.

It is unlikely that it will be possible to completely cope with the problem; to do this, you need to walk around the house in a chemical protective suit. If there is no way out, and you need to leave the animal, at least for a while - until you find out whether it is possible to permanently cure an allergy to cats in your case - then the following measures may partially help:

• do not touch the cat with bare hands;
• carry out wet cleaning every day with cleaning products to remove animal hair and dander;
• once a week, disinfect the room with a bleach solution;
• change cat litter using gloves and a medical mask, and it is better to entrust this task to someone who does not have allergies;
• do not allow the cat to enter the room where you spend the most time, and also do not allow the cat to jump on the bed;
• Constantly ventilate the room, use a fan and air conditioner;
• use a special shampoo for cats against human allergies, and you will have to wash your pet regularly;
• remove all carpets from the room;
• castrate or neuter an animal.

These measures will not help get rid of allergies to cats, but they allow you to reduce its manifestations to a minimum, and for some people whose negative reaction of the body does not manifest itself too clearly, they make it possible to freely keep a cat in the house.

Conclusions

It is impossible to say for sure whether it is possible to get rid of an allergy to cats. Therefore, before purchasing a pet, you need to undergo an examination, otherwise there is a risk of not only becoming a frequent visitor to the doctor, but also breaking the heart of your furry friend, who will have to be given to other owners.