Allergy to animal hair: symptoms and methods of treatment. Allergies to cats: symptoms in adults

According to available statistics, every fifth of our compatriots show symptoms of allergy to animal hair. And this common disease affects not only adults, but also children. In today's article you will find detailed information about this disease.

Stages of the disease development

Allergen, trapped in the human body, is immediately attacked by the immune system. After this, the cells absorb some part of the molecules of the destroyed foreign agent. Due to this, they develop an antigen and with the help of circulating blood spread information about the allergen across all systems and organs.

In case of repeated contact with the agent, the cells of the body immediately begin to fight with it. In the area of contact with the allergen, the blood vessels expand, so that the lymphocytes collect to the dangerous site. The more they are in the place of contact, the more vivid are the symptoms of allergy to animal hair.

At the stage of clinical manifestations, the respiratory system, and sometimes the digestive system, is affected. On the human skin, redness and irritation may occur. The reaction rate directly depends on the individual characteristics of the organism. Usually the first symptoms of an allergy to the animal's hair begin to appear already after an hour and a half since the contact.

How this disease manifests itself

The main symptoms of this ailment are similar in many respects to those characteristic of allergy to pollen of plants. As a rule, the disease is accompanied by lacrimation, sneezing, stuffy nose and even asthma attacks.

Depending on the individual characteristics of the body, the symptoms can occur in the period from several hours to six months. It is important that throughout this period the patient is under the supervision of specialists. A person prone to allergies to animal hair can develop eczema, urticaria and neurodermatitis. In most cases, these patients have severe itching, swelling of the eyelids, dyspnea and attacks of suffocation.

Allergies to cats: symptoms in adults

The cause of the development of this disease is usually not the animals themselves, but the secret that stands out by their skin. Representatives of the cat family carefully monitor the purity of their bodies, so they constantly lick themselves. As a result of these actions, the allergenic protein gets to not only their hair, but also to where they sit or sleep.

It is proved that males produce more of this substance than females. Symptoms of allergy to cats in adults are manifested in the form of stuffiness and itching in the nose. Also in patients there is increased tear, swelling of the face and frequent dry cough. Often, such patients receive complaints of perspiration in the throat, urticaria, hoarseness of the voice and shortness of breath. In especially severe cases, it comes to an asthmatic attack and Quincke's edema.

Allergies to dogs

The skin of these pets excrete Can F1. High concentrations of this allergen are observed in representatives of short-haired breeds. On the body of hairy dogs, he is present, but not in such quantities. Even with careful care of the animal, its skin will not cease to produce a substance that causes a negative reaction of the human body. This allergen accumulates on furniture, carpets, curtains and toys. And its viability persists for quite a long period.

Most often, the allergy to dogs is manifested in the form of dry cough, red eyes, swelling of the nasopharynx and increased tear. Often in patients, there is a strong skin itch and hoarseness of the voice. Especially acute these symptoms are felt by people suffering from bronchial asthma. In such patients, there may be an attack of suffocation and Quincke's edema.

Methods of diagnosis

Having figured out how the allergy to animal hair manifests itself, you need to say a few words about what tests and studies are being assigned to identify the problem. In most cases, patients are advised to take scarification skin tests. This analysis is performed using a special tool, which is made notching on the inside of the forearm.

Patients are also prescribed prik-testing. The technique of its implementation is similar to a scarification test. But in this case a needle with a limiter is used as a tool.

A good method for detecting an allergen is considered to be intradermal tests. In this case, the reagent is injected with an insulin syringe. The presence of allergies is judged by the size of the blisters that appear.

One of the most accurate and effective methods of diagnosis is the computer-based Foll method.

To obtain reliable results, several days before the procedure room visit, you should stop taking antihistamines. Contraindications to the tests are: tuberculosis, pregnancy and infectious processes. It is impossible to perform such tests during the period of exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Principles of therapy

Those who want to understand how to cure an allergy to animal hair, you need to remember that when the first symptoms of this disease occur, you need to contact a specialist. Only in this way you can completely eliminate the health problem and prevent the development of serious complications.

With regard to treatment, the doctors identify three main stages, including:

• Antiallergic therapy. It consists in using antihistamines.
• Symptomatic therapy involving the use of antiasthmatic drugs, eye drops and nasal sprays.
• Immunotherapy, consisting in the subcutaneous injection of small amounts of antigen.

The most effective tablets from allergies to animal hair include such drugs as Suprastin, Loratadin, Claritin, Nazonex, Astelin, Tsirtek, Zirtek and Flonaz.

Than this disease is dangerous?

Allergy to wool is considered one of the most common health problems. It is not seasonal, and it can manifest at any age. This disease is dangerous not only for adults, but also for children.

With incorrect or untimely therapy, allergies to pet hair are fraught with serious consequences. In the best case, it will cause permanent stress, irritability, rapid fatigue, headache and reduced immunity.

In particularly neglected situations, it leads to the development of chronic bronchitis, laryngitis, rhinitis or asthma. Theoretically, anaphylactic shock, ending with swelling of the larynx and death of the patient, is not excluded.

General recommendations

To ensure that the symptoms of allergy to animal hair do not return to your life, you must follow a few simple rules. First of all, we must avoid all contact with our lesser brothers. If you already have a furry pet, it is desirable to re-arrange it in good hands.

If you are planning to go to friends who keep dogs or cats, shortly before the proposed visit, start taking antihistamines. In addition, ask the receiving party not to let your animals in the room intended for you.

More often do wet cleaning, paying special attention to the corners and hard-to-reach places in which the allergen can accumulate. Try not to use the vacuum cleaner, since this device raises up the smallest particles of dust that can stay in the air for a long time. Instead of dense curtains, hang light curtains on the windows. Often ventilate the living quarters and, if possible, get an ionizer, a powerful ventilation system or an air conditioner equipped with an air purification function.

Animals that do not cause allergies

As a rule, it is very difficult for people suffering from this disease to pick up a pet. Therefore, many of them are interested in what kind of animal to get, if an allergy to wool is available. In such cases, experts recommend keeping houses of aquarium fish, bald guinea pigs or chinchillas.

Also on the list of allowed animals include exotic specimens, such as Madagascar cockroaches, snakes, lizards, frogs and turtles. However, all these animals, frankly, a great lover. After all, not everyone will agree that next to him there will be a reptile.

Cats and dogs for allergy sufferers

If you, despite everything, still decided to have a dog, then pay attention to the Mexican bare breed. On the body of these animals there is no hair at all. But this does not mean that they can not cause allergies. To minimize the risk of exacerbation of the disease, wash the animal regularly and make sure that the particles of its saliva do not get in your nose.

Hippoallergenic breeds also include Yorkshire terriers, poodles, short-haired schnauzers, dwarf spitz, papillons, Chinese crested, Shih Tzu, Samoyeds, Bichons and Maltese.

As for cats, then you will have to make a choice between devon rex, javanese, cornish rex, Don and Canadian sphinx. In addition, hypoallergenic animals can include Siberian, Russian blue, Oriental and Balinese. Many of them have very specific appearance and almost no undercoat, and some representatives are completely bald.

Before you buy a four-legged friend, be sure to consult with your doctor. But in this case you are not immune from the appearance of symptoms of the disease. Therefore, having brought a dog or a cat from the list above, forget about observance of precautions. Regularly bathe your pet with the use of special shampoos, cut and comb the hair. Try to make sure that the animal does not enter the room in which you sleep. Systematically, do wet cleaning in the house and periodically ventilate the rooms.