According to the World Health Organization, about 15% of the world's population suffer from ailment, to one degree or another, like a cat allergy. How does this condition manifest itself, why does it arise and what are the most effective methods of dealing with it? Let's get it right.
Causes of Allergies
Many people, mistakenly believing that they are allergic to cat hair, think that if you have a short-haired animal (sphynx breed, for example), all unpleasant symptoms will cease to annoy. In fact, the reaction is provoked not by the hair of a pet, but by the protein that is contained in dead skin cells, as part of the urine and saliva of the pet.
Allergic people are immunocompromised. Because their body is very sensitive to external stimuli. For every allergen, it includes a protective reaction. If the immune system is weakened, the main allergy symptoms occur, which are a side effect of the body's struggle with irritants.
Even if a person does not suffer from allergies to cats, a pet can bring it with ease. So, a fluffy pet often brings mold, pollen and other allergens from the street to the house.
Allergy Symptoms
In order to be sure that there is an allergy to a cat, how this condition manifests itself is simply necessary to know. It is worth noting that, due to their individual characteristics, each person reacts to these pets in different ways, and therefore one or several of the following reactions may be observed:
- Nasal congestion and runny nose.
- Tearfulness and irritability of the eyes.
- Constant sneezing.
- Attacks resembling asthma (shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing).
- Redness of the area of the skin that was in direct contact with the animal.
So, a person suggests that he is allergic to a cat. How does this ailment manifest itself, after what time period can the first symptoms be observed? Signs of an allergic reaction of the body can occur both immediately after contact with a furry pet, and several hours after it.
An allergy in an infant to a cat is manifested by all the same symptoms as in adults. However, since the immunity of newborn babies is very weak, the consequences of an
allergic disease can be extremely dangerous: the development of bronchial asthma or
allergic rhinitis in a child.Methods for detecting a cat allergy
If a person is unfamiliar with a condition such as an allergy to a cat, how this ailment manifests itself, he cannot say with accuracy, then if you have any suspicions, you should visit a doctor before you say goodbye to your pet forever. Perhaps the pet has nothing to do with the host’s allergic reaction.
In order to make sure of this, the specialist will offer to carry out allergic tests. However, it should be borne in mind that standard tests are far from always informative and effective. This is because the allergens used for them are taken from the "average" cat (outbred animal), while allergens still have minor so-called "pedigree" features. In more modern allergy centers, it is possible to conduct a test on the basis of an individually prepared reagent, which may be wool, urine or pet saliva.
Mistakes in Home Allergy Diagnosis
If, after the appearance of a cat in the house, one of the households has signs of conjunctivitis, dermatitis or rhinitis, before pronouncing the sentence “animal allergy”, it is necessary to carefully analyze the situation and make sure that there are no other reasons for the appearance of these symptoms.
First of all, you should check whether your beloved pet has an invasive or infectious disease that can occur in both an animal and a person. Thus, diseases such as toxoplasmosis, mycoplasmosis or chlamydia are often masked under conjunctivitis and
allergic rhinitis . Redness and itching of the skin can be caused by tick-borne infestation, known as scabies, or a fungal infection - depriving.
It is worth considering that in most cases the cat itself may have no external manifestations of the disease. So, in an animal that has had chlamydia, the clinical manifestations of conjunctivitis in the form of minor outflows from the eyes may not be observed, but at the same time, the pet, being the carrier of the infection, can infect the hosts with it.
On the skin of many cats, a mite microscopic in size can be parasitic - cheilitiella, which does not cause any problems for the animal. This parasite does not live on human skin, but if it gets on the skin, it can produce a bite, which will lead to itching and irritation in this place.
Another common mistake in the "home diagnosis" of allergic reactions to a cat is an incorrect definition of the allergen. So, it is likely that the cause of the allergic disease is not the pets themselves. In modern times, more and more people are faced with such phenomena as allergies to food in cats, pet cosmetics, toilet fillers, toys and other accessories.
Allergy Treatment: Highlights
To get rid of allergies forever is a practically impossible task, and it is possible to say with high probability that this ailment will remind of itself from time to time. But at the same time, it is quite possible to significantly alleviate the human condition and prevent the emergence of new turns of the disease with even more acute symptoms.
So, if you have an allergy to a cat, what to do in this case? First of all, you must completely limit any contact with your pet. It is also important to control your emotional sphere and try not to allow the influence of various stressful factors on the body, arising mainly due to separation from your beloved animal.
The main question that most allergy sufferers try to find the answer to is: "Where can I put an expensive pet, without which it seems to be simply impossible to live?" Parting, of course, is tolerated very hard. But if a person suffers from a running allergy to cats, then this is extremely necessary. But it is better at this time to think about where the pet will be comfortable. For example, you can give the cat to relatives or close friends to be sure that the animal is taken care of.
Useful tips on getting rid of cat allergies
- First of all, it is necessary to avoid long close contacts with the cat: less often take the pet in your arms, stroke it. It is recommended to find an alternative to tactile communication. So, for example, it can be conversations, games with the use of "fishing rods", balls, observation of the animal from the side.
- The territory of the apartment or house should be strictly "divided" with your four-legged friend. It is forbidden to let a cat into an allergic person’s bedroom, especially in his bed.
- After talking with your pet or its accessories, you need to wash your hands thoroughly and even change clothes. Wash things with a powder with special additives.
- It is recommended to remove objects that can collect allergens from your home: upholstered furniture, carpets, downy and woolen bedding.
- Every day it is necessary to carry out wet cleaning in the apartment with the use of antiallergenic agents, use a vacuum cleaner with special filters, air purifiers.
The importance of proper nutrition and regular cat washing
American studies have shown that washing a cat can significantly reduce the number of allergic irritants. However, over time, the level of allergens is restored, and therefore the animal must be washed every week. To do this, you can use both professional or anti-allergic shampoos, and plain water.
It is very important to properly feed your pet. This is due to the fact that poor-quality feeding can negatively affect the cat's skin, causing molting and other injuries, which, in turn, increase the concentration of allergens in the environment.
Drug treatment
How to cure allergy to cats with medication? The doctor will first advise taking antihistamines that block the action of allergens. Some of them (Claritil and Benadril medicines) can be purchased at the pharmacy yourself, while others (Zirtek) are sold exclusively by prescription.
If an allergy to a cat is diagnosed, what should traditional medicine recommend in this case? Decongestants, which include Allgra-D and Sudafed, are well established in solving this problem. Their task is to reduce edema and prevent stagnation of the mucosa.
Other medications can easily eliminate the symptoms of allergies. So, for example, Nazonex and Flonaz sprays traditionally used to eliminate the manifestations of allergic reactions are particularly effective.
One of the options for getting rid of allergies is an injection course. But it is worth noting that such treatment, which is also not always effective, can last more than one year. This method of combating allergies is unsafe, and therefore it is forbidden to carry out to children under 5 years of age.
Interesting Facts
It has been proven that cats, compared to cats, distribute significantly less allergens. Also, the younger the pet, the less irritants come from it. Sterilized and neutered four-legged friends are less allergenic than full-fledged cats.
Studies have shown that regardless of breed and gender, allergic reactions to these pets of a dark pattern or color occur in humans much more often than on light cats. Allergenic properties of saliva, urine and skin of animals do not depend on the length of the coat and breed.
Knowing how to cure an allergy to cats, and following the recommendations on keeping a pet, you can get rid of unpleasant allergic manifestations without parting with your beloved four-legged friend.