Allergy to animals

Allergy, which is considered a disease of the civilized world, can form in response to the impact of literally any factor. The number and range of allergens, of which modern medicine today has more than 450, is increasing every year. Allergic reaction in itself already presents a problem for the allergic person, but allergy to animals sometimes turns into a real drama - after all, the question of separation from a pet is raised.

An aggressive response of the immune system can provoke almost any kind of animal - rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, cats and even birds or fish. Most often, an allergy to animals is an allergy to the coat of a cat or a dog. In fact, the reaction is not caused by the hair itself, but by microscopic particles of the animal's dermis, saliva or other components of the vital activity of the pet.

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Which animals do not cause allergies?

Despite a rather long history of development, allergy to animals has not yet been studied to the end. Every five to seven years, doctors offer new treatment methods that are really effective at first, but after a few years the allergy is transformed and again attacks humanity. In this sense, an allergy to animals is indicative. Previously, it was believed that an aggressive reaction can provoke the animal's fur, felinology and cynologists actively undertook the removal of hypoallergenic breeds of animals. The joy of allergies was not the limit, but after a rather short period it became clear that both the hairless cats and dogs all also provoke allergic reactions from their owners. Thus, it became obvious that at all the wool is the culprit of the allergy, and it was established that the allergen is a specific micro-protein contained in saliva and animal skin particles. Since absolutely no skin, neither a cat nor a dog can exist, active actions to remove sterile animals in terms of allergies have a little subsided. As doctors sometimes joke, the safest animals for an allergy sufferer are aquarium fish. Time also refutes this joke, over the past ten years the number of allergic reactions to fish has increased three-fold. Of course, the fish themselves are not guilty of anything, an allergic response from the immunity provokes food and special chemicals for aquarium water. Thus, neither the famous sphinxes (hairless cats) nor the "bare" dogs - Chinese or Mexican crested, can not be absolutely safe for a person prone to allergies. The choice is not great - either do not start the animal at all, or try to defeat allergy in a possible, effective way.

How does the animal allergy manifest itself?

• Allergic rhinitis is rhinitis.
• Sneezing, characteristic of repeated repetition - from 5 to 15 times in a row.
• Itching of the skin is local or common.
• Increased tear and allergic conjunctivitis.
• Swelling of the body, mostly of the face or limbs.
• Dry frequent coughing, coughing jerks can be multiple - from 10 to 20 times in a row.
• Attacks of suffocation, asthma.
• Atopic dermatitis.
• Hives.
• Quincke's edema up to anaphylactic shock.

An allergy to animals can manifest itself in a few minutes after a direct contact of a person with an animal, climax occurs after 2-3 hours. In those who first encounter allergies, the period of so-called sensitization (acquaintance) with the allergen begins, most often the symptoms appear in the following sequence: 

• Conjunctivitis.
• Rhinitis.
• Hives (urticaria).
• Itching at the point of contact with the allergen.
• Hyperemia and puffiness.

In sensitized allergy sufferers who already have an "experience" of allergic reactions, the reaction occurs in 15-20 minutes and manifests itself most often in the form of respiratory signs - coughing, difficulty breathing, dyspnea, bronchospasm. Asthma attacks can develop in half an hour or hour after contact with the animal.

Animal allergy can be manifested without contacting the pet directly, the allergen can be a high concentration of Fel d 1 or Can f 1 - antigens in the room where the cat or dog is kept.

Which allergens are dangerous?

Sadly, but the general fashion for cats, a fanatical desire to photograph them and publish pictures of pets in all possible places in the photographs may end, at least for allergy sufferers. The fact is that allergens of the feline family are the most active and dangerous allergens. Allergists have identified more than 10 aggressive antigens that are secreted by a cat. The most "popular", common is the allergenic protein (glycoprotein) Fel d 1, which is found in the cutaneous epithelium of the animal, in sebaceous secretions, sweat, urine. Virtually everyone diagnosed as having an allergy to animals has a formed immune response to this allergen in the form of an aggressive IgE immunoglobulin. Feline dermal allergen, Fel d 1 is microscopic in size and easily transported into the airspace of the room, getting completely invisibly into the human respiratory system. It should be noted that cats are considered more allergenic than cats, they have an aggressive glycoprotein much more. Castrated cats, the safest in the sense of allergic provocation. Also, cats and cats produce another allergen, which occupies the second line of the list of the most active antigens of animals. This specific albumin - Fel d 2, excreted by the saliva of the animal, it is found in dandruff or the serum of the cat.

Dogs secrete an antigen called Can f 1, less often Can f 2. These allergens are found in dandruff and dog skin particles.

Animal allergy can be cross-linked, for example, the available allergic reactions to cats are combined with intolerance to dogs, horses or tigers, leopards. As for wild predators, it is not difficult for an allergic to minimize contact with them. But the dogs and less often, the horse is much closer to the person. Are there any animals that are absolutely safe in an allergic sense to humans?

Treatment of allergies in animals

First of all, we will listen to the advice of "experienced" allergy sufferers who could find a compromise between their love for animals and an allergic reaction. The recommendations are as follows: 

• If possible, do not use in the interior of carpets, heavy curtains and woolen bedspreads, in short, everything where allergens can concentrate. 
• Identify the area for the pet, where he will live and try not to let him into other rooms and rooms. 
• Acquire a good, quality air filter that will remove microscopic substances from the surrounding space, including animal allergens and household allergens. The filter should be dry, the ionizer that emits ozone is not good, it can only aggravate the allergic reaction. 
• Daily spend a wet cleaning of the room. 
• Wash your hands, face, take a shower.

As for traditional methods of treatment, which involves allergy to animals, then any allergist doctor will tell you - get rid of the animal - this is the main method of therapy. Indeed, the classic treatment of allergy begins with the elimination (removal) of the allergen, the exclusion of contact with the allergen. Neither washing the floors, nor combing out daily or washing an animal will save you from a severe allergy, this is a reality that needs to be accepted. Probably, having worked and cured allergy, after a while it will be possible to try again to get a pet.

Among the methods that modern allergology offers, in addition to the standard treatment with antihistamine drugs, desensitization or immunotherapy is effective, when the human body is "taught" to adequately respond to the detected allergen. Treatment is long, requiring patience, but very effective.

If the animal allergy has brought drama to your house, and the pet had to be given in good hands, do not be discouraged. Perhaps unclaimed remote cat love is needed by some turtle or lizard. They have no wool at all, they feed mainly on plants, and the allergy to amphibians is not yet known to the medical world.