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Allergy to cats: symptoms and treatments. How to get along with an allergy sufferer in the same apartment with Murka or Barsik?
The so-called cat allergy is extremely common. It’s good if you knew about this misfortune in advance, and never asked for a fluffy kitten for your birthday. But what about those who have already settled a meowing creature in their house, and suddenly discovered clear signs of allergies in themselves?
Strictly speaking, there is no cat allergy. More precisely, their wool, which is usually blamed for all the most unpleasant allergic symptoms, has nothing to do with it. An allergic reaction in humans is caused not by the animal’s fur itself, but by its saliva and, sorry, urine. And also – the smallest particles of the skin. There is a special type of protein in saliva, in urine, and in the skin – this is what is the allergenic culprit of all ills.
So the belief that hairless cats, or cats with super short dense hair are not dangerous for an allergy sufferer, is fundamentally wrong. There are no hypoallergenic cats – they all “wash” and “go to the toilet” as one, which means that they are all by their nature capable of causing painful symptoms in humans.
The most common symptoms are:
Coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath;
Skin rashes like hives;
Redness and irritation of the eyes (so-called allergic conjunctivitis), lacrimation;
Redness of the skin and itching (especially clearly can be manifested by direct contact with the animal);
Runny nose, and often and stuffy nose without signs of a cold;
Sneeze.
How to be treated, please?
The manifestation of symptoms is difficult to predict in advance: they can appear both immediately after contact with a pet, and after a few hours. Moreover, a person may not even see the animal itself in the eyes! But even his mere presence in the room where the animal lives can provoke allergic reactions. Asthmatics are especially sensitive to cats – most of them only need to spend a few seconds in a cat’s company to feel a sharp exacerbation of the disease.
Most often, the treatment of allergic reactions to cats is reduced to a standard set of measures (as with any other allergy itself) – namely, to the use of antihistamines that block the action of allergens, and to eliminate edema (if observed).
My friend is my enemy
Naturally, very few people will come to mind to start a meowing friend in their own house in the presence of an obvious allergy to cats. But how to be, if to the murk or barsik was already imbued with all the soul, and only during the joint residence the same notorious allergic reaction was discovered? Is it possible, in some way, what is called, and not to throw a seal, and not to suffer yourself? Find a healthy compromise in this situation will help an allergist. It is he who is able to determine how high the chances of getting on this particular allergic specifically with this cat. I must say that in almost half the cases, allergic people and cats even get along. True, the first should strictly follow the implementation of the following rules:
Try to avoid direct contact with the animal if possible. To wash, prikoroshivat and iron your pet, alas, will not have you personally, but someone from the household.
Be careful not to let your pet ever go into the bedroom.
If you do not live in an apartment, but in your own house, equip your pet with a “home” as far as possible from those rooms that you use most often.
Keep your home clean. Despite the fact that the animal’s coat itself is non-allergenic, it is it that is the main “carrier” of saliva, urine, and skin particles. Therefore, carefully clean all areas in the house where your pet may have left its fur.
Try to get rid of fluffy carpets with long pile, heavy curtains and other “dust collectors”. Firstly, they are excellent at collecting cat hair, and secondly, they also collect dust, which in itself can become the causative agent of unpleasant allergic symptoms.
Finally, the most important thing: about once a month, visit an allergist and watch for your well-being.
By the way, it is likely that your stubbornness and unwillingness to part with your beloved pet will turn out for you … the most effective way to get rid of your cat allergy. Science knows many cases when allergies were cured by the “wedge-wedge” method: the body gradually, over the years, got used to the constant presence of the allergen and ultimately simply stopped responding to it.