Why do cats become allergic? Allergy to cats: "yes" or "no" to communication with animals? Are there non-allergic cats?

The growth of various allergic diseases in modern society does not decrease in any way, allergy, it is for this reason that many of today's doctors have already managed to call it a disease of the twenty-first century. About eighty percent of the world's population is subject to a wide variety of allergic reactions. A wide variety of elements and substances act as allergens (house dust, plant pollen, chemicals, food, etc.)

An allergy to animals is considered a very common disease, in this regard, such a pathology as an allergy to cats is especially common. In general, such a disease as an allergy appears due to a perverted, so to speak, reaction of the body to some foreign substances. Pet hair often acts as an allergen. But cats are more likely to cause allergic reactions in humans. More precisely, not even the cats themselves, but their fur. Allergy to cats, according to statistics, is observed in fifteen percent of the world's population.

Nowadays, there are cats in almost every home. These pets are loved by many adults and children, and it is not for nothing that it is believed that having a cat in the house is necessary for health and well-being. But when cats become the cause of some disturbing pathologies, you have to refuse contact with them, doing without these cute furry creatures.

In addition, cat hair is popularly considered a fairly strong allergen, but do not think that hairless cats will not contribute to the development of the disease in question. An allergy to the fur of a beloved cat appears not only because of the very fact of the presence of a woolen cover in an animal, the secrets produced by the glandular cells of the cat's skin can become an irritant.

Sometimes, cat saliva can act as an allergen. Therefore, any contact with pets, in particular with cats, is prohibited for people predisposed to allergic pathologies. Allergies to cat fur and saliva can cause negative consequences and adversely affect the health of an allergic person. Therefore, before you get a cat, you should find out if any of the family members are allergic to these cute pets. It will be possible to determine such a pathology after contacting medical care(disease diagnosis and medical consultations)

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Allergy to a cat, the main symptoms of the disease

Allergy to a cat, like any other allergy to animals, is accompanied by some disturbing, uncomfortable sensations and signs of illness. Such a thing as an allergy to cat hair or an allergy to cat hair is not quite the right definition. The coat of this fluffy pet may well become a carrier of the allergen, but not an independent factor that provokes the disease. For example, wool can contain dust, pollen, which sometimes cause allergic reactions, penetrating through the respiratory tract into the human body.

In general, an allergy to cats appears in humans due to a protein that is produced in the skin of this domestic animal. This allergen of protein origin can also be found in the urine, feces, saliva of a cat. The human body often treats it (a protein produced in the skin of a cat) as a foreign substance, which often causes allergic reactions.

The signs of an allergy to cats that have appeared almost immediately declare themselves. Cat allergy symptoms can occur individually or in combination. What should be taken into account in case of suspicions associated with the development of a typical pathology? Allergy to domestic cats is accompanied by the following distinguishing features:

First you should turn to the condition of the nasal passages. If, it became difficult to breathe, the nose is constantly blocked, while mucous formations stand out from it, then this is one of the most common signs of the pathology in question.
Allergy to cats - often accompanied by various forms hives, skin peeling, severe itching
Another of the alarming symptoms that accompanies an allergy to cats is the nervous state of a sick person. At the same time, nervousness and emotional overstrain can appear suddenly, and also for no particular reason.
Almost any allergy to animals, cats are no exception in this regard, is accompanied by blue lips, a strong cough, and frequent sneezing.
Shortness of breath, tearing, redness of certain areas of the skin of a sick person are typical symptoms for the disease in question.
In some cases, an allergic disease to cats in adults, as well as in children, is accompanied by dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, as well as a general weakening of the body.

How does an allergy to a domestic cat manifest itself in a baby?

Unfortunately, even newborns often show signs of an allergy to a cat. In children, this disease is fixed more often than in adults. The reason for this phenomenon is the peculiarities of the child's body. Young children, as you know, have rather weak immunity, they are easily influenced by some external factors that lead to various pathologies.

Infants and newborns are at particular risk. In children of this age group, the symptoms of the disease in question appear suddenly, progress rapidly. The disease is accompanied by symptoms allergic rhinitis, asthma (bronchial), as well as some symptoms of conjunctivitis. In exceptional cases, the child may experience anaphylactic shock (a particularly dangerous form of allergic reactions).

Although most of the symptoms of the disease in adults and children are identical, but do not forget about the fact that the child cannot always explain where it hurts (what exactly worries him). Parents with suspicions of the appearance of a disease in children, especially if there is a cat in the house, should pay attention to the following symptoms of the considered allergic pathology:

The child has difficulty breathing, problems appear both during inhalation and exhalation (this also happens with allergic rhinitis). Some children try to breathe through their mouths, sometimes emitting specific wheezing.
The kid constantly rubs the area where the organs of vision are located. Frequent contact of the child with the surface of the eyes should alert parents. If you find signs of conjunctivitis, you should immediately contact an experienced pediatrician.
Avoid direct contact between the cat and the child. Scratches can easily contribute to the development of pathology. If a pet cat has scratched a baby, appropriate precautions must be taken (call a doctor, treat the wound, isolate the pet from the room where the child is)
The cases when children need urgent medical intervention include the appearance of edema on the baby's body. In addition, if the disease is in an advanced stage, then the child may experience asthma attacks, and his skin and lips become bluish. Such cases are very dangerous, threaten the health of the child, so you should immediately call home ambulance to prevent undesirable consequences.

The primary signs of the disease can disturb the child immediately after contact with the allergen, but sometimes the manifestation of the disease should be expected after a certain period of time.

How to treat cat allergies?

Before embarking on wellness procedures, it is necessary to accurately establish the cause of the appearance of an alarming pathology (to check whether the cat caused the disease or some other factors contributed to this). To do this, it is first important to do a diagnostic analysis for the presence of the disease. If the result confirms the disease, then first of all, it is worth minimizing contact with your beloved pet. Of course, not everyone succeeds in parting with a cat easily, but with advanced forms of the disease, this must be done.

Many people, faced with the ailment in question, are wondering: “is it possible to cure an allergy to cats?”. Treatment, if you are allergic to cats, should strictly begin only after medical consultation. Let's say right away that there are no one hundred percent ways to get rid of an allergy to cats. At this time, most doctors offer some effective ways to cure cat allergies. But even the most effective methods modern medicine will not cure the disease completely. But many alarming symptoms of the disease, for a long time, will leave a person alone.

Any attending physician, for the purposes of healing the patient, should recommend how the best remedy from an allergy to cats that has appeared - the complete isolation of this domestic animal. As you know, the treatment of any allergic pathology begins with the determination of the allergen, and further prevention of contact with the irritant that contributes to the onset of the disease. It should be remembered that no drug therapy will help if you do not get rid of the root cause of the disease.

The standard course of healing procedures, in the treatment of allergies to fluffy pets, includes the use of the following medicines:

Ways to deal with cat allergies include the widespread use of anti-edematous medications. These medicines are excellent for swelling and stagnation of mucus that appear as a result of an illness.
For a certain fight against the disease, it is necessary to use antihistamine drugs. These drugs act as blockers of chemical irritants. The use of antihistamine drugs is possible only after a medical recommendation, although some of these drugs are produced without instructions.
In addition, many doctors prescribe general anti-allergenic drugs to patients for effective and speedy recovery from the disease. These medications should help reduce the manifestation of allergic reactions. Simply put, after their use, the impact of the allergen on the human body will noticeably decrease.

When an allergy to cats of an advanced form is detected, many people ask themselves: “what to do?”. In such a situation, most doctors recommend injection therapy. Injections will help improve the health of a sick person, but even injections against allergies cannot help to completely heal from this ailment.

In addition, it must be emphasized that self-treatment of the disease can lead to negative consequences. Cat allergy pills will be effective only after the recommendations of an experienced doctor. Although the disease is not completely cured, medical specialists can help eliminate the effect of this pathology on the human body.

In conclusion about measures to prevent the disease

For prevention purposes, all owners of cats and cats should avoid prolonged contact with these pets. It is worth ironing less often, picking up fluffy pets. After any contact with cats, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly, sometimes it is even worth changing clothes immediately.

It is very important to regularly bathe your beloved pet. To reduce the risk of allergic disease, cats should be bathed at least twice a week. In addition, your beloved cat must be fed in a timely and proper manner.

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medistoriya.ru

In modern society, allergic diseases are among the most common. A variety of irritants can cause an inadequate reaction of the body. These include food, drugs, and chemicals.

Very often, not only in children, but also in adults, there is an allergy to pets. And its pathogens in most cases are cats (2 times more often than dogs). For many, a cat is a full-fledged member of the family. And not everyone is ready to get rid of the animal, even if it has an allergic reaction.

The mechanism of development and causes of allergies

A true allergy is an increased sensitivity of the body to certain foreign proteins with which contact occurs. The immune system healthy person directs tissue macrophages to absorb an alien stimulus and digests it.

At hypersensitivity organism to allergens, the process of sensitization develops in it. The immune system begins to synthesize its own class E immunoglobulins against allergens. They settle on the walls of tissues and, upon the next contact with a foreign protein, they are combined. Immune complexes are formed, which are the trigger mechanism for allergies. They hurt mast cells through the membranes of which histamine is poured into the intercellular space. It is because of him that they develop characteristic symptoms allergies.

Many people believe that cat hair is the cause of allergies. In fact causative agents of the disease can be:

Proteins that are in the urine and saliva of the animal, which can also get on the coat.
Ingress of allergens from the street (pollen, fluff, mold) that a cat can bring on its fur.

Conclusion: allergic reactions develop not from the animal's hair, but from what can accumulate on it.

First signs and symptoms

How does a cat allergy manifest itself? The disease can have many different manifestations. Their intensity and nature depend on the characteristics of the human body, the ways of penetration of allergens, the regularity of contact with the animal.

Common signs of a cat allergy:

Upon contact with the skin, hyperemia, rashes in the form of urticaria, itching develop.
Sneezing, which, with a high degree of sensitization to the allergen, appears already a few minutes after contact with it.
Mucous watery discharge from the nose.
Allergens easily penetrate the bronchial membranes due to their microscopic size and provoke bouts of dry allergic cough.
When it comes into contact with the mucous membrane, tearing of the eyes, redness and burning appear.
In the case of swelling of the tissues of the oropharynx, the lack of air intake provokes shortness of breath, cyanosis of the lips, symptoms of bronchial asthma.
If a cat scratches or bites, then a person with an allergy will have redness and itching in the injured area. allergic itching can occur on different parts of the body, not only at the site of contact with feline protein. Scratches may not heal for a long time, itch, fester due to the addition of a bacterial infection.

In rare cases, it may develop severe forms allergic reaction with Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock. Such conditions require immediate hospitalization and emergency care.

Learn about the symptoms and treatment of allergic eyelid blepharitis in adults and children.

Read about how and how to treat allergic rhinosinusitis at this address.

Methods for dealing with cat allergies in adults

How to cure a cat allergy? You can get rid of the manifestations of the disease only if you avoid contact with cats. But first you need to determine if cat proteins are really the cause of the allergy. Perhaps the reason is in the food for the animal, or there is an intolerance to other substances that the cat carries on its coat (pollen, mites, dust).

If the animal still had to be given to other hands, and the symptoms do not go away, it is necessary to carry out a general cleaning - allergenic substances remained in the house:

Clean upholstery, carpets.
Wash all surfaces in the house with soapy water.
Change air conditioner filters.

Medications

How to get rid of allergies to cats? There are no special drugs that can get rid of allergies forever. All offered modern medicine funds are aimed at stopping the symptoms of the disease, preventing complications.

To stop the release of the main culprit of the allergic reaction - histamine, the doctor will prescribe antihistamines. Tablets are suitable for adults oral administration, and in more severe cases, allergy shots are needed. They relieve swelling of tissues, itching, inflammation.

Preference is given to drugs of the 2nd and 3rd generation:

cetirizine;
Loratidine;
Erius;
Cetrin;
Telfast and others.

When a rash appears, it is advisable to apply local antiallergic agents:

Gistan;
Fenistil gel.

To relieve mucosal edema, remove excess fluid from tissues, decongestants are used (adrenomimetics, diuretics, hypertonic saline solutions).

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Read the rules for using Polysorb sorbent for allergies in a child in this article.

If the allergy is accompanied by persistent rhinitis and nasal congestion, vasoconstrictor and antiallergic drops are used:

Vibrocil;
Otrivin;
Histimet;
Allergodil.

In case of tearing and redness of the eyes, drops will help:

Opatanol;
Zaditen;
Kromoheksal.

If antiallergic drugs do not give visible result After a few days of treatment, your doctor may prescribe a short course of corticosteroids:

Prednisolone;
Hydrocortisone.

For scratches left on the skin by a cat, it is recommended to apply antiseptic ointments to prevent infection:

Solcoseryl;
Ficidin;
Levosin;
Levomikol.

Prevention measures

If getting rid of the cat that caused the allergy is neither possible nor desirable, you must learn to coexist with the animal with minimal health risk. In order for allergy symptoms to appear as rarely as possible, it is necessary to follow the recommendations:

Avoid frequent contact with the animal, do not allow it to bed in the bedroom.
If possible, remove carpets, heavy curtains, soft toys from the house - everything that can accumulate the smallest particles of allergens.
Daily wipe dust on all surfaces with a damp cloth, wash floors even in hard-to-reach places.
Wash curtains and curtains once every 10 days.
Bathe your cat every 2 days to remove all allergens from her coat.
The cat litter box should be located in a place where human contact with it will be minimal. The filler should be changed daily.
Buy an air purifier for allergy sufferers or install a good air conditioning system. Regularly check the operation of the devices, clean the filters in time.

Are there cats allergic

Unfortunately, an allergic reaction can occur on any breed of cat, different ages and hair length. But some are less allergenic. It has been established that small kittens are less allergenic. Females emit fewer allergens than males. Dark-haired cats are more likely to be allergic than light-haired cats. "Naked" breeds of cats secrete the same amount of protein substances as other breeds. But they are easier to maintain.

Before getting a cat at home, you need to make sure that the proximity to the animal will not lead to the development of allergies. It is much easier to prevent an exacerbation of the disease than to deal with it. If an allergic person has to live under the same roof with a cat, you need to limit contact with it as much as possible. Take all preventive measures to prevent the spread of cat allergens around the house.

After watching the following video, you can learn more about the causes and treatment options for cat allergies:

allergiinet.com

Cats are one of the most popular pets in the world. And this is not surprising, because they are almost ideal for living in the house. They do not require specific conditions, walking, professional training and equipment for their maintenance. Their small size allows them to comfortably accommodate in any conditions and do not require high feed costs. And the variety of breeds will not leave anyone indifferent.

There are, of course, some difficulties in keeping these wonderful pets. One of them could be allergies. This is a hereditary disease, characterized by an overreaction of the immune system to a substance.

Specificity of cat allergy

A significant part of allergic diseases is associated with these animals. It is generally accepted that cat hair provokes them, but this is not entirely true. In fact, substances that cause a strong reaction in allergy sufferers are found in:

cat hair;
saliva
urine and feces;
blood;
products of the sebaceous glands.

Wool contributes to the development and exacerbation of allergy symptoms precisely because particles of saliva, skin and secretions of the cat's glands linger on it. In such an unpleasant phenomenon as an allergy to cats, the symptoms can be quite diverse, from mild irritation of the mucous membranes to breathing problems.

Allergy symptoms

Allergy symptoms can appear both immediately after contact with the animal, and after a few hours. And sometimes it is enough not even to contact the cat, but simply to be in the same room with it, or where it often happens. Asthmatics are especially sensitive in this respect. The condition of most of them will worsen after a few minutes of being in the apartment where the fluffy pet lives. A neglected allergy, without proper treatment and isolation of the patient from the pathogen, can develop into the same asthma.

The main symptoms of a cat dander allergy are:

sneeze;
nasal congestion, runny nose;
skin redness and itching;
redness and irritation of the eyes, lacrimation, photosensitivity;
skin rashes;
cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, spasms.

Even the presence of all of these symptoms is not an accurate indication of the presence of an allergy. Only a specialist can make a diagnosis, so self-medication is not appropriate here. Blood tests and skin tests will help establish the allergic nature of the disease.

Prevention and treatment

The answer to the question - is it possible to cure an allergy to cats is rather ambiguous.

It is believed that it is impossible to completely get rid of this disease, you can only minimize its manifestations.

But, nevertheless, there are cases of almost complete disappearance of symptoms without special treatment. This may be due to age-related changes a person, changing his lifestyle and health in general. In this matter, everything is so individual that it is difficult to predict the deterioration of the condition, or vice versa, the cure.

In any case, first of all, it is worth attending to the prevention of exacerbations. And the best measure for an allergic person here is to avoid any contact with pathogens, in particular, do not get a cat at home. But sometimes you still have to contact these animals, for example, at a party. Or, due to circumstances beyond the control of a person, he may be forced to live in the same territory with a furry source of problems, at least temporarily. And finally, there are times when a person simply does not know about his allergy and gets a cat. And then it's a pity to get rid of it. In this case, rules of conduct can help, following which you can make your life much easier:

direct contact with the animal should be avoided; petting, picking up, combing or bathing it will have to be someone else;
you need to allocate a room, for example a bedroom, where the cat is not allowed to enter;
you should not contact the owners of cats for a long time, especially fluffy ones, this can also worsen the condition;
thorough and frequent cleaning of the house is an indispensable condition, it is necessary to get rid of the fallen wool as soon as possible;
you need to minimize the number of fluffy carpets, bedspreads, soft toys and other things that perfectly “collect” wool and dust;
the animal needs to be washed and combed out regularly;
frequent ventilation is a necessary condition.

All these measures can help, if not completely get rid of the problem, then significantly ease your life. At least until a special breed of cats for allergy sufferers is bred, which does not cause symptoms in principle. But all this is true only in cases where the allergy is mild. There are also situations in which avoiding any contact with the source of problems is the only way out, and half measures do not save.

Any person with a suspected allergy should consult a specialist, only he can determine the cause and prescribe suitable drugs. The cat allergy treatment prescribed by him can almost completely eliminate the symptoms. Special antihistamines - tablets for allergies to cats are often very effective. In difficult cases, they are combined with decongestants. An allergy sufferer with mild symptoms who keeps a cat at home, it is enough to visit an allergist once a month. This will help to track changes in the state and take the necessary measures in time.

Which cats are suitable for allergy sufferers?

Often the desire to have a pet of your own is so great that allergy sufferers wonder which cats do not cause allergies in humans?

The allergen is not only wool, but also saliva, secretions of sweat glands, and so on.

And absolutely all cats can become a source of a negative reaction of the immune system. Therefore, completely non-allergenic breeds of cats are impossible, this is a myth. But if the disease is not very pronounced, then you can choose a suitable animal. In this case, cats for allergy sufferers are a very real phenomenon.

Sometimes you can find information about hypoallergenic cat breeds with photos and names. As we have already found out, even they are not completely safe. So, non-allergic cat breeds are more of a reduced-risk cat breed. These include:

Balinese cat;
oriental shorthair;
javanese (Javanese cat);
devon rex;
cornish rex;
canadian sphynx;
Don Sphynx;
Peterbald (Petersburg Sphynx).

As can be seen from this list, cats that do not cause allergies in humans are, first of all, animals of curly-haired breeds and hairless. The Rex's coat is rather short and lies in soft curls. They almost do not shed, respectively, less allergenic particles get on the surface and into the air. And hairless cats spread unwanted substances to an even lesser extent. True, they sweat more actively. But they are much easier to bathe than other breeds, and you can do this more often. This means that the likelihood of developing the disease will be lower. It can be conditionally considered that these are cat breeds without allergies.

There are several more interesting facts. So it is known that cats of light (preferably white) color emit less substances that are aggressive for the human immune system than dark ones. Also under the idea of which cats are not allergic are neutered animals, and females are preferable to males. If you follow these recommendations for choosing and caring for a cat, as well as not neglecting a visit to the doctor, then it is quite possible to coexist peacefully with your pet. At least in cases where the allergy is not pronounced and does not pose a serious danger.

MechtaKoshki.ru

A charming kitten can fill life not only with comfort and positive emotions, but also bring serious problems into it in the form of a response of the immune system to an irritant. In order not to blame the purring creature in vain for all troubles, it is better to clarify how an allergy to cats manifests itself. The cause of unpleasant symptoms is not always precisely home pet.

How does an allergy to cat hair manifest itself in adults?

To begin with, it is important to learn that immunity does not react at all to the animal's fur. In the case under consideration, irritants are protein compounds, proteins that are excreted with saliva and urine.

Thus, allergies are equally manifested both in British cats and in contact with other breeds of these cute creatures, including completely hairless sphinxes. They all regularly go to the tray and lick themselves, highlighting in environment proteins. Naturally, most of the proteins settle on the skin and hairs of the pet, which led to the erroneous opinion that the immune system reacts to fur.

The characteristic signs of the described pathology are specific symptoms and how quickly the allergy to cats manifests itself. If for other varieties of the disease, for example, hay fever, it takes several hours before the development of a pronounced clinic, negative reactions upon contact with animals occur almost immediately.

Signs:

Sneezing with no discharge a large number transparent secret. Allergens, first of all, get on the mucous membranes of the nose during breathing, causing their irritation and swelling, sometimes congestion without a runny nose.
Dry cough and dyspnea like an asthmatic attack. Protein compounds are microscopic in size, due to which they quickly overcome membrane barriers in the bronchi. This provokes difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing.
Conjunctivitis. Another area subject to penetration of allergens is the eyes. The described pathology is accompanied by severe lacrimation, noticeable redness of both proteins and mucous membranes, swelling of the eyelids. In addition, photophobia is observed.
Dermatological reactions. Typically, allergies are characterized by typical urticaria, but with direct tactile contact with a cat, rashes may be more numerous. Often, the red rash is intensely itchy and quickly spreads throughout the body, including the face and neck.
Inflammation. If a pet has licked, bitten or scratched any area of human skin with hypersensitivity to feline protein, redness and irritation, swelling is first observed in this place, after which it may begin inflammatory process, especially with bacterial infection or contamination of the wound.

It is worth noting that the symptoms are purely individual and not necessarily all of the listed symptoms should occur. Moreover, you need to check the presumptive diagnosis by consulting an allergist. The cause of these phenomena may be a completely different disease.

How long does it take for a cat allergy to show up?

It has already been mentioned that sneezing, coughing and difficulty breathing usually occur during the first hours of communication with a pet, regardless of its breed. But this indicator may vary depending on several factors.

The following parameters influence the time after which an allergy to cats manifests itself:

the age of the animal, kittens produce less protein;
abundance of wool;
frequency of indoor cleaning;
habitat (lives in a separate room, on the street or moves freely).

The reaction time is completely different for each person, some symptoms appear after 5-15 minutes, others after several months.

WomanAdvice.com

There are many types of allergies. And these are not always banal reactions of the body to cold, sun, certain foods. In these situations, it is possible to protect yourself from the irritant in the shortest possible time, without prejudice to your own mood. There are cases that are out of the ordinary. You have a beautiful, beloved pet, but suddenly you realize that you are allergic to cats, the symptoms did not appear immediately. What to do? And how to recognize the disease?

It was not the breed of the animal and the coat that caused the negative reaction of the body. Sometimes pet owners are surprised - how is it possible to be allergic to bald cats if they do not have hair? The disease arose as a result of hypersensitivity to skin particles, excrement, saliva. You should not take a photo of your Murka to the doctor. This will not help identify the irritant.

Blame the protein that is part of these particles. The body does not always respond adequately to its presence. Not surprisingly, the cat just lay down next to her, stroked her, and then found several signs of allergies.

And animals that have access to the street often bring other irritants. Allergies to cats rarely go on their own. Along with the reaction to animals, there will be another kind - pollen intolerance. At the height of spring, an affectionate purring creature runs away from the house, returning a few hours later - the owner touches the wool, which has settled allergen particles. And immediately felt unpleasant symptoms ...

Symptoms in children and adults will not differ much. In a child, everything manifests itself more clearly, noticeably, sharply. This will happen due to weak immunity and a genetic predisposition to this species reactions.

Important! An allergy to a cat in a baby needs a special approach, because what younger man the worse he tolerates such reactions.

The most common symptoms in adults and children are:

skin problems - irritation, redness. Allergic dermatitis is also possible: the skin gradually peels off, becomes covered with a crust;
the occurrence of one of the varieties of allergic conjunctivitis. Eyes swell, watery, intolerance to light and sunlight develops;
catarrhal symptoms - cough, runny nose, nasal congestion;
breathing problems progressing to the onset of asthma;
worsening general condition- loss of appetite, lethargic mood, refusal to communicate;
headache.

How does a cat allergy develop? This can happen gradually, or it can be sharply indicated by most of the signs. It all depends on the little things, including the time of year. In winter, the animal is often in the apartment and cannot bear spring irritants.

Important! What are the symptoms in newborns? The same as in adults, but much more aggravated. The baby cannot sleep, eat, becomes restless - constantly cries.

Diagnostics

If you suspect that a child has a cat or you are allergic, then initially exclude contact with the animal. If possible, leave home for a few days, moving in with relatives. You can check whether the symptoms of the disease subside. Experience will help the doctor quickly eliminate the consequences of the reaction.

Remember that a visit to an allergist should be in the plans immediately after the separation from the animal has occurred. Prepare to answer the following questions:

do you suffer from other types of allergies - food, insect, respiratory, medicinal;
when the first manifestations were noticed;
which member of your family suffers from a similar type of allergy;
whether the isolation helped to reduce the symptoms of the disease.

Based on your answers and your own observations, a competent specialist will definitely make his verdict. Further treatment depends on it - successful, if all the necessary conditions observed.

The treatment process is reduced to the following steps:

elimination of contact with an animal that causes allergies;
taking antihistamines;
if necessary - the use of vitamin complexes;
individual measures to restore immunity.

Allergies happen for a reason. Its presence is a signal that there are problems with the body. Maybe another disease is progressing, more dangerous - usually it is associated with the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract or cardiovascular system. Know: for the right, effective treatment you should visit other doctors, undergo a comprehensive examination.

Antihistamines are aimed at relieving the most obvious symptoms. They are commonly used for all types of allergies. They can only be prescribed by a doctor after the irritant is accurately identified. Without this information, it is impossible to choose a quality drug. Sometimes hormonal drugs are prescribed.

Important! People with allergies to medications need to be doubly careful. Usually they have a note on the card, but it is recommended to warn the doctor about the presence special kind reactions - then the drugs will be selected twice as carefully.

Vitamin complexes are necessary - they will increase the ability of the immune system to protect the body from external influences.

Prevention

The rules of treatment largely coincide with preventive measures. Follow the rules below so that the allergy does not touch you.

Carry out wet cleaning of the premises once every 1-2 days. In the room where the pet is located, cleaning should be done by a family member who does not have any allergies.
Lead healthy lifestyle life - give up junk food and alcohol.
The lungs will help physical exercise. This item, like the previous one, will improve the state of immunity, preventing the appearance of allergies in the future.
Think about changing the sexes in your home. There is a lot of wool and other biological particles left on the carpets. This will negatively affect the condition of those households who have intolerance. Parquet eliminates the need to regularly vacuum the soft floor.
The pet should be bathed as often as possible. Ideally - 2-3 times a week, no less. Find out if you are allergic to your shampoo - it may be worth replacing it.
If you have the means, put leather furniture.
If intolerance is caused by pets of friends, limit visits to their house. Suggest an alternative - going to the cinema, the park, bowling. Nature will be your best bet.
If you are planning to get a cat, find out if you have a predisposition to allergies - this will save you problems in the future.

Pets do not always bring only happiness. Sometimes they cause health problems. The situation becomes sad if, as a result, the animal needs to be given to good hands. It is necessary to consult a doctor in time so that the disease does not have time to progress, and the cat does not have to be disposed of.

Cats are amazing creatures that give us unique positive emotions. However, these pets can also cause diseases, including allergies. Useful information about the symptoms and treatment of cat allergies will help you recognize the disease in time and competently deal with the problem.

What is an allergy

An allergy is an increased sensitivity of the body to a certain type of protein. Such proteins are called allergens. When a person comes into contact with an allergen, the body, defending itself, begins to intensively produce antibodies (immunoglobulins E). This reaction of the body is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms. different intensity. The following allergens can cause a specific reaction in humans:

particles of pet skin;
medicines;
dust mite;
plant pollen;
Food.

The term "allergy" comes from the ancient Greek word "allos", which in translation means "other, alien".

Allergy to cats - features

The opinion has long been rooted in the people that allergies are caused by cat hair. However, this statement is erroneous. An abnormal reaction of the body is provoked by the contact of a person with particles of the epithelium of a cat. Epithelial cells are elements of the surface layer of the animal's body. And also the epithelium lines the inside of the lymphatic and blood vessels; is part of the mucous membranes internal organs, respiratory system, oral cavity. In addition, epithelial cells are produced by many glands of the animal: sweat, salivary, lacrimal.
Cats are clean animals that take great care of their coats. Licking its fur, the cat leaves particles of the epithelium on the fur coat. Therefore, for a person prone to allergies, for the occurrence of pathological symptoms, it is enough just to stroke the cat.

When a cat washes, allergens also get on her hair with saliva.
Allergens also spread around the apartment along with the animal's hair; present in places where the cat slept. Cat owners come across an allergenic protein when they feed their pet or clean up after it. Moreover, the owner of the cat can become a carrier of allergens: particles of the cat's epithelium can be on human clothing.
It happens that an allergy to a cat does not occur constantly, but periodically. As a rule, this phenomenon is associated with temporary physiological changes in the human body. For example, an allergic reaction to a cat is possible in stressful situations; during hormonal changes in the body, which is characteristic of adolescents and pregnant women.

Which Cat Breeds Can Cause Allergies?

Cats of any breed can cause allergies, but there are some features:

the likelihood of developing an allergy in a person increases if it is adjacent to certain breeds. With long-haired: Persian, Angora. The longer the pet's coat, the more allergen accumulates on it;

Persian cats have long hair, which increases the likelihood of developing allergies in humans.

with short-haired, having a thick undercoat. This category includes "British" and "Scots". The thicker the fur coat, the more hair the cat loses in the process of molting. Together with wool, allergens also spread around the apartment;
with fertile (not subjected to castration or sterilization) cats and cats;
"bald" cats: Canadian Sphynxes, Don Sphynxes, Peterbalds; the following pets are the least "dangerous" for allergy sufferers:

All breeds of hairless cats are hypoallergenic.

cats without undercoat: oriental, Balinese, Balinese;
cats with short curly hair: Devon Rex, Cornish Rex.

However, the absence of wool or undercoat does not give a full guarantee that an allergy will not develop in a person. Therefore, when you take a cat from a breeder, you should stipulate the possibility of returning the animal back. Only after living with a cat under the same roof for a while, you will understand whether the animal causes allergies or not.

Allergies can be caused not only by fluffy, but also short-haired and hairless cats.

Signs of the disease

An allergic reaction to a cat can be immediate or delayed. With an immediate response of the immune system, symptoms develop immediately when a person comes into contact with the allergen. With absence drug treatment The peak of symptoms is observed after 2-3 hours. A delayed allergic reaction can develop 4 to 6 hours after a person has been exposed to the allergen.
The most common allergic reaction to a cat is accompanied by the following signs:

runny nose;
swelling of the nasal mucosa;
sore throat;
sneezing

Sneezing is a common symptom of a cat allergy.

lacrimation;
conjunctivitis - inflammation of the outer mucous membrane of the eyes;
redness and swelling of the eyelids;
blurred vision;
pain in the eyes;
dryness and itching skin ov;
the appearance of various rashes on the skin: urticaria, in which pale pink blisters appear on the skin;

With urticaria, light pink rashes appear on the skin, which are very itchy.

eczema - the formation of nodules with serous contents on the skin;
dyspnea;
headache;
hearing loss;
the appearance of noise in the ears;
sleep disturbance;
irritability;
enlargement of the submandibular and cervical lymph nodes.

Symptoms of an allergy to a cat can be of varying intensity. In some situations, pathological signs give a person only mild discomfort, in others they make life unbearable.

When allergens enter digestive system A person may experience symptoms of intoxication:

nausea;
diarrhea.

In rare cases, signs of intoxication may be accompanied by rashes on certain areas of the body:

on the elbows;
on the stomach;
in the groin area.

Symptoms in children and adults are the same. However, in young children, symptoms of intoxication develop much more often than in adults. This is due to the fact that babies constantly pull their fingers into their mouths, as well as toys. If particles of the cat's epithelium are present on the fingers or toys, then the allergens enter the child's digestive tract and cause signs of intoxication.

Allergens can be on children's toys.
Severe symptoms can be observed in pregnant women. During this period, a woman is especially susceptible to allergens. In a pregnant woman with a disease, rashes may appear throughout the body, extensive swelling on the face may form, and toxicosis may also increase.

An allergy to a cat can cause an increase in toxicosis in a pregnant woman.

Allergies during pregnancy are dangerous because they can affect the condition of the fetus. In addition, many allergy medications are contraindicated for pregnant women, which complicates the treatment of the disease.

Dangerous signs of a cat allergy appear in the following situations

With bronchospasm. An attack can develop not only in patients with bronchial asthma, but also in ordinary people. During an attack, the bronchi narrow and the following symptoms are observed:

"barking" paroxysmal cough;
suffocation;
wheezing in the chest;
heartache;
strong excitement. A person may behave inappropriately: shout, wave his arms;

With anaphylactic shock - a dangerous condition, which is accompanied by "critical" symptoms:

blanching of the skin;
blue lips and fingertips;
hoarse and noisy breathing;
a sharp drop in blood pressure;
cramps of the limbs;
sharp pains in a stomach;
vomiting;
severe diarrhea;
loss of consciousness;
extensive swelling of the face and limbs.

With dangerous signs, you should urgently call an ambulance, because in such a situation, an allergy threatens not only health, but also human life.

How is the diagnosis carried out

An allergic reaction to a cat can be detected using such medical tests:

a blood test for immunoglobulin E. For research, a patient's venous blood is taken. The analysis helps to distinguish allergies from other diseases with similar symptoms: rhinitis, skin pathologies. However, the study can only record the fact of an allergy in a person. The type of allergen is not determined by the analysis;
scarification test. Shallow scratches are made on the skin of the inner surface of the forearm with a sharp object. Next, on the damaged areas of the skin are applied different kinds allergens. The result is evaluated after 30 minutes: if a person has an increased sensitivity to this type of allergen, then the skin around the scratches will turn red. With a strong allergic reaction, hives and other rashes may occur;

Scarification test is designed to determine the type of allergen

test injection. The patient is injected subcutaneously with a small amount of the allergen. The result is interpreted in half an hour.

You can also purchase a rapid test at the pharmacy, which is designed to detect allergic reactions. Using the test is very simple: you need to prick your finger on your hand with a special lancet and apply a drop of blood to the test strip. The test result can be assessed after 30 minutes. A rapid test is able to detect an allergy, but is not able to determine its type.

Treatment Methods

An allergist treats any type of allergy. Therapy of the disease may include such methods:

the use of medicines;
injection immunotherapy;
folk remedies.

Medical therapy

Medical therapy is not able to completely eliminate allergies to cats, but can only alleviate the symptoms of the disease. As an aid, the following medications can be used:

antihistamines (Suprastin, Zyrtec, Loratadin);

Suprastin eliminates itching and irritation of the skin, and also "softens" other allergy symptoms.

means of external use (Advantan, Econom). Shown at skin manifestations allergies;
nasal sprays (Nazarel, Fluticasone). Medicines reduce swelling of the nose, normalize breathing, have an anti-allergic effect;
antispasmodics (No-shpa forte, Drotaverin). Medicines relax the muscles of the internal organs, reduce pain. For example, these remedies are effective for headaches;

No-shpa forte will help you quickly get rid of headaches.

enterosorbents ( Activated carbon, Enterosgel). Used for symptoms of intoxication.

Immunotherapy

Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (ASIT) - effective method treatment, which is able to completely eliminate the increased sensitivity of the body to particles of the cat's epithelium. The method consists in introducing allergens into the patient's body. Initially, minimal doses are administered, then the amount of the drug increases. Thus, the body gradually "gets used" to aggressive substances for it. A vaccine containing allergens can be administered to a patient in the following ways:

by injection:
in the form of tablets by mouth:
with the help of inhalation;
in the form of drops through the nose.

The treatment method is contraindicated in the following situations:

at a severe stage of bronchial asthma;
if a person has been diagnosed with cancer;
with mental disorders;
if the patient suffers from infectious chronic diseases.

In addition, immunotherapy is not used in children under five years of age and in elderly patients.
Immunotherapy can only be prescribed by an allergist after the necessary medical examination. In most cases, treatment is carried out in medical institutions. It is also possible therapy at home, but under the strict supervision of a doctor.
A significant disadvantage of the method is the duration of treatment: the course of ASIT can be delayed for 3–5 years.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies, like medicines, are not able to save a person from an allergy to a cat. However, some folk recipes help to reduce pathological signs:

finely chop dandelion leaves. Squeeze the juice out of the raw material through a cloth. Dilute the juice with water in a ratio of 1:1. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cool the solution. Reception schedule - three tablespoons daily before breakfast. Duration of treatment - two months;

Dandelion leaves have anti-allergic properties.

pour a teaspoon of motherwort with a glass of boiling water. Soak the remedy for an hour. Strain and cool the infusion. Rinse your nose twice a day to reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Before using any folk remedy, you should consult a specialist.

Prevention rules

If a person is allergic to feline epithelium, then the only preventive measure is to avoid contact with the cat. A smart decision before acquiring an animal is to go through medical examination, which will allow you to accurately determine whether there is an allergy to a cat or not. You can reduce the likelihood of allergies by giving preference to hypoallergenic cat breeds, as well as by castrating pets.

Can an allergy sufferer continue to live with a pet?

Of course, the most correct option for a person with a cat allergy is to give the pet into good hands. However, many loving owners are so attached to their pets that they are not able to decide on such a step.

It often happens that a man and a cat become true friends.
If, despite the allergy, you have decided not to part with your pet, then try to adhere to the following recommendations:

regularly carry out dry and wet cleaning to prevent large amounts of wool from settling on the floor and other surfaces;
install an air purifier in the apartment;
ventilate the room where the cat lives several times a day;
perform hygienic measures for caring for an animal only with medical gloves;
do not sleep in the same room as the cat;
bathe your pet once a week. At the same time, as detergent use special shampoos for cat allergies. For example, effective tool PET + shampoo from the manufacturer Allersearch is considered;

During bathing, part of the allergens is removed from the coat and skin of the animal.

brush your pet every day. Best Option if combing will be performed by one of the family members who is not prone to allergies. The use of gloves during the procedure will not completely protect the allergic person from exposure to the cat's epithelium. In the process of combing, hair can spread through the air and come into contact with unprotected areas of human skin, as well as get into his nose. In an allergic person, this will certainly cause an attack of the disease;

Daily combing of the cat will reduce the amount of wool in the apartment.

Wash cat toys daily with hot soapy water.

If you have symptoms that are characteristic of a cat allergy, contact a specialist immediately. The disease requires timely diagnosis treatment, and lifestyle modification.

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According to the World Health Organization, about 15% of the world's population suffers from some form of cat allergy. How does this condition manifest itself, why does it occur and what are the most effective methods fight him? Let's figure it out.

Causes of Allergy

Many people, mistakenly believing that they are allergic to cat hair, think that if you get a short-haired animal (Sphinx breed, for example), all unpleasant symptoms will cease to annoy. In reality, it is not the pet's fur that provokes the reaction, but the protein that is contained in dead skin cells, as part of the pet's urine and saliva.

Allergy sufferers have reduced immunity. 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 side effect the body's fight against irritants.

Even if a person does not suffer from an allergy to a pet, they can easily bring it on. So, a fluffy pet often brings mold, pollen and other allergens into the house from the street.

Allergy symptoms

In order to be sure that an allergy to a cat has arisen, it is simply necessary to know how this condition manifests itself. It should be noted that each person, by virtue of his individual characteristics reacts to these pets in different ways, and therefore one or more 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 skin area that has been in direct contact with the animal.

So, a person assumes that he is allergic to a cat. How does this disease manifest itself, after what time period can the first symptoms be observed? Signs of the body can occur both immediately after contact with a furry pet, and several hours after it.

An allergy in a baby to a cat is manifested by all the same symptoms as in adults. However, due to the fact that the immunity of newborn babies is very weak, the consequences can be extremely dangerous: the development of bronchial asthma or

Ways to detect allergies to a cat

If a person is not familiar with such a condition as an allergy to a cat, how this disease manifests itself, he cannot say with accuracy, then if there are suspicions, before saying goodbye to a pet forever, it is worth visiting a doctor. Perhaps the pet has nothing to do with the allergic reaction that has arisen in the owner.

In order to make sure of this, the specialist will offer to conduct allergic tests. However, it should be borne in mind that standard tests are far from always informative and effective. This is due to the fact that the allergens used for them are taken from an “average” cat (outbred animal), while the allergens still have minor so-called “pedigree” features. In more modern allergy centers, it is possible to conduct a test based on an individually prepared reagent, which can be pet hair, urine or saliva.

Mistakes in home allergy diagnosis

If, after the appearance of a cat in the house, one of the household members showed signs of conjunctivitis, dermatitis or rhinitis, before passing the sentence “allergy to an animal”, it is necessary to carefully analyze the situation and make sure that there are no other causes of these symptoms.

First of all, you should check if your beloved pet has an invasive or infectious disease which can occur in both animals and humans. So, diseases such as toxoplasmosis, mycoplasmosis or chlamydia are often disguised as conjunctivitis. Redness and itching of the skin can be caused by a tick infestation known as scabies, or a fungal infection - lichen.

It should be borne in mind that in most cases, the cat itself may not have external manifestations of the disease. So, in an animal that has had chlamydia, there may not be observed clinical manifestations conjunctivitis in the form of minor discharge from the eyes, but at the same time pet, being a carrier of infection, can infect their hosts.

Another common mistake in the "home diagnosis" of allergic reactions to a cat is wrong definition allergen. So, it is likely that the cause of an allergic disease is not the pets themselves. In modern times, more and more often a person is faced with such phenomena as allergies to cat food, zoocosmetics, toilet fillers, toys and other accessories.

Allergy Treatment: Highlights

Getting rid of allergies forever is an almost unrealistic task, and we can say with a high degree of probability that from time to time this ailment will remind of itself. But at the same time, it is quite possible to significantly alleviate a person’s condition and prevent the occurrence of new rounds of the disease with even more acute symptoms.

So, if there is 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 to prevent the influence of various stress factors on the body, which arise mainly due to separation from your beloved animal.

The main question that most allergy sufferers are trying to answer is: "Where to put an expensive pet, without which, it seems, it is simply impossible to live?" Breakups are definitely hard to bear. But if a person suffers from a neglected 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 a cat to relatives or close friends to be sure that the animal is taken care of.

First of all, it is necessary to avoid prolonged close contact with the cat: take the pet in your arms less often, stroke it. It is recommended to find an alternative to tactile communication. So, for example, it can be conversations, games using "rods", balls, watching the animal from the side.
The territory of an apartment or house should be strictly “shared” with your four-legged friend. It is forbidden to let a cat into the bedroom of an allergic person, especially in his bed.
After interacting with a pet or with its accessories, you must thoroughly wash your hands and even change clothes. Wash things should be with a powder with special additives.
It is recommended to remove items from the home that can collect allergens on themselves: upholstered furniture, carpets, downy and woolen bedding.
Every day it is necessary to carry out wet cleaning in the apartment using anti-allergic agents, use a vacuum cleaner with special filters, air cleaners.

The importance of proper nutrition and regular bathing of the cat

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, as well as 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 shedding and other damage, which, in turn, increases the concentration of allergens in the environment.

Medical treatment

On cats using medicines? The doctor will first advise you to take antihistamines that block the action of allergens. Some of them (the drugs "Claritil" and "Benadryl") can be purchased at the pharmacy on their own, while others (the drug "Zirtek") are sold exclusively by prescription.

If a cat allergy is diagnosed, what to do in this case advises traditional medicine? Decongestants, which include Allgra-D and Sudafed, have proven themselves well in solving this problem. Their task is to reduce swelling and prevent mucosal congestion.

Other medicines will help to easily eliminate allergy symptoms. So, for example, Nasonex and Flonaz sprays, traditionally used to eliminate the manifestations of allergic reactions, are especially effective.

One of the options for getting rid of allergies is a course of injections. But it is worth noting that such treatment, which is also not always effective, can last more than one year. This method the fight against allergies is unsafe, and therefore it is forbidden to carry it out for children under 5 years old.

It has been proven that cats, compared to cats, spread significantly fewer allergens. Also, the younger the pet, the less irritants it comes from. Spayed and neutered four-legged friends are less allergenic compared to full-fledged cats.

Studies have found 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-colored cats. Allergenic properties of saliva, urine and skin of animals do not depend on the length of wool and breed.

Knowing how to cure a cat allergy and following these recommendations for keeping a pet, you can get rid of unpleasant allergic manifestations without parting with your beloved four-legged friend.

Numerous cases of allergy to cats are recorded everywhere. This disease affects both children and adults at any age. Symptoms of pathology often increase when cats shed. However, there are methods to help get rid of this type of allergy and restore the quality of life of the sick. Still, prevention is better than cure.

Why does it arise? Allergic reactions - inadequate protective actions of the immune system in response to contact with substances that are perceived by it as hostile to the body, although in fact they do not pose a danger. In fact, this is a "delusion" of the system, due to failures in its operation.

At the very first contact of allergenic substances with the body, protective antibodies are produced against them. And with repeated contact, the immune system tries to counteract them. This is expressed in the desire to destroy alien agents. But at the same time, their own tissues, and not imaginary enemies, receive the greatest blow.

The main substances associated with cats that are allergic to:

animal fur;
saliva;
peeling flakes of old skin;
urine;
feces.

Allergies to cat hair are the most common. The villi of various domestic animals differ in their composition. This is why some people are only allergic to cats, while others are only allergic to dogs. Moreover, aggressive reactions of the immune system are manifested only in certain breeds of animals. In the saliva of cats, there are hundreds of times more protein compounds (enzymes, immunoglobulins, lysozyme) than in human saliva. Moreover, their superactivity was revealed. A concentrated substance provokes the occurrence of pathological reactions more strongly, especially allergies to wool.

Since the keratin of cat skin is significantly different from human skin, its scales can also be perceived by the immune system as hostile agents. The urine of these pets contains proteins and acids in high concentration, therefore it strongly irritates the skin and mucous membranes. The allergenicity of cat feces is due to the presence of mucus in them, in which there are a lot of immunoglobulins and lymphocytes.

In addition, along with pets, classic provocateurs of immune pathology enter the home: flower pollen, poplar fluff, street dust. Allergies to females may occur more often than to males. Light-coated cats have fewer hazardous substances than their dark-colored counterparts. Kittens and neutered individuals differ in this.

Dark-haired cats have more hazardous substances.

Risk factors

Can a cat owner avoid being allergic to her? This largely depends on the factors provoking its occurrence. They are divided into modifiable, i.e., controllable, and non-modifiable, which cannot be controlled.

The latter include:

hyperfunction of the immune system;
congenital deficiency of enzymes;
tissue hypersensitivity to allergic mediators (mediators);
violation of the control of their concentration;
hereditary predisposition.

If there are failures in the intrauterine development of the child, the number immune cells and antibodies in his blood increases significantly. The body's defenses are strengthened, but at the same time the risk of allergies increases.

To identify and destroy foreign agents before they enter the body, class A immunoglobulins and the natural antibiotic lysozyme are needed. With their deficiency, allergens easily get inside and provoke attacks by the immune system.

The main mediators of allergy are serotonin, which is “in charge” of hyperemia and swelling of tissues, histamine, which causes itching, and bradykinin, which is responsible for pain. Even due to a small injection of these hormones into the bloodstream, with increased tissue sensitivity to them, an allergic-type reaction may occur. Sometimes special cells of the brain, spleen, kidneys, liver, skin, which regulate the concentration of such mediators, are damaged.

It has been proven that the predisposition to allergies is genetically transmitted. Pathology can manifest itself after 6 generations, without touching any of them, and occur in the descendants of the seventh generation.

That's why you can never be absolutely sure that this or that person does not have a hereditary predisposition to allergies due to a cat.

Modifiable risk factors:

hypertension;
chronic inflammation of the digestive system;
liver disease;
worms;
aggressive ecological environment;
unreasonable intake of immunostimulant drugs (Arbidol, Anaferon, Broncho-munal, Derinat, Polyoxidonium, etc.);
long-term treatment ACE inhibitors(Enalapril, Captopril, Diroton, etc.);
hypovitaminosis.

Symptoms of pathology

When an allergy to a cat occurs, the symptoms of a disease state affect most people immediately. You just need to know them well so as not to be mistaken for signs of many other diseases. The manifestation of allergy to cats most often occurs from an early age in the form of such typical symptoms:

redness and itching at the points of contact with the pet;
sneezing
nasal congestion, rhinitis, difficulty breathing;
dry cough;
lacrimation.

This is how cat allergies manifest in children. Most often this occurs in children with reduced immunity. The appearance of urticaria with fever is typical for newborns. More acute symptoms can be seen in preterm infants.

Pathology is more severe in newborns with a hereditary predisposition to such ailments. They can get sick even in the absence of furry pets in the house - their allergens are easily carried with the air, through clothes, unwashed hands. Often there is an allergy to cats in infants, children under one year old, if their immune system is weakened by frequent illnesses.

In advanced cases or with inadequate treatment, the following symptoms of cat allergy in children are possible:

severe skin rash;
abdominal pain, diarrhea;
vomit;
breathing through the mouth;
hoarse voice;
swelling of the face;
blue lips.

How does an allergy to a cat manifest itself in an adult? The symptoms are the same as in children, with the exception of intestinal disorders. The skin often not only turns red and itches, but also peels off. In addition, these signs of cat allergy may be accompanied by an asthmatic manifestation - shortness of breath.

Dry cough, sneezing, nasal congestion are the first symptoms of an allergy.

Diagnostics

You can find out if there is an allergy from a pet living in the house by undergoing an examination by an allergist. Since this pathology is characterized by many different functional abnormalities, it is often necessary to additionally contact a dermatologist, pulmonologist, nephrologist or general practitioner.

Before visiting a doctor, it is recommended to think over the exact wording of your complaints. The clarifying questions of the doctor should be answered as clearly as possible so as not to give false grounds for an erroneous diagnosis. Most often, doctors ask:

What exactly worries you the most?
Is there a cat at home and for how long?
Was there any direct contact with her before the onset of the symptoms?
Have you ever had an allergic reaction to anything other than saliva or cat skin particles?
Do you have relatives with allergies?
What are the comorbidities?
Have there been recurrences of animal allergies and how often?
What was the previous treatment?
Were the prescribed medications effective?

How to test for allergies to cats? If there is a rash, the doctor should examine the skin where it appears. Be sure to show the doctor without any hesitation everything external signs allergies wherever they are on the body. To recognize pathology, surrender is practiced. laboratory tests and passing special tests.

Most often, when diagnosing an allergy to a cat or a cat, you need to get the results:

general and biochemical analyzes blood;
general urine analysis;
immunograms;
tests that identify a specific allergen;
analysis for the presence of lymphocytes, hypersensitive to the tissues of cats.

In the patient's blood, if there is an allergy to cats, a significant amount of leukocytes, eosinophils, C-reactive protein and immune complexes, an increase in ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is found. Analyzing urine, a laboratory assistant with an allergic nature of the pathology often detects in it a total protein, an excess of cylinders, and sometimes blood.

The allergy that appeared in the patient is confirmed by an increased amount of class E immunoglobulins and the presence of lymphocytes with hypersensitivity to cat tissues. The results of scarification tests show: the larger the size of the inflammation around the scratch, into which the solution with the allergen is applied, the stronger the immune system counteracts it.

Treatment Methods

Is it possible to cure allergies due to cats completely? The task is difficult, almost impossible. But it is quite realistic to reduce the manifestations of the disease to a minimum. Suffering from an allergy to cats, how to get rid of the painful symptoms of this scourge? You need to change your lifestyle. First of all, it is necessary to permanently eliminate the factors that provoke pathological reactions. It is important to avoid all contact with cats.

What else should you pay attention to? You should also eat hypoallergenic foods to reduce the amount of inflammatory mediators. Equally important is frequent wet cleaning of housing.

To reduce the hypersensitivity of the body to allergens, it is necessary to regularly carry out preventive course treatment. If you follow all these rules, the severity of the disease will certainly pass. Moreover, timely therapy will avoid severe complications of an irreversible nature.

How to deal with cat allergies? For this purpose, apply:

pharmaceutical preparations;
traditional medicine;
pet care cosmetics.

How to cure cat allergies at home? You can start by bathing them regularly with special shampoos that wash out allergenic substances. To improve the patient's condition, the attending physician, correlating the symptoms and treatment of pathology, is guided by an integrated approach. He uses the possibilities of medicines and internal and external use.

The first thing to do when treating a cat allergy is to avoid contact with the animal.

Pharmaceutical preparations and folk remedies

How to Treat a Cat Allergy medicines? Appointment is widely practiced injection solutions, tablets, drops, gels, sprays, ointments from the group of antihistamines. Diazolin, Tavegil, Suprastin, Loratadin, Telfast, Erius and other remedies for cat allergies are effective.

Antihistamines Fenistil, Zirtek in the form of doctor's drops are prescribed if a cat allergy is diagnosed in a child infancy. Any medical preparations must be prescribed taking into account the age of the child, so as not to harm his health. Treatment is carried out at home. Hospitalization is required only for complications. If a child has a congenital allergy, sometimes as it grows, it goes away by itself for a long time.

How to get rid of allergies to cats folk remedies? Popular recipes:

An effective way is to take 1 tbsp three times a day before meals. l. fresh celery juice.
From time immemorial, people have been getting rid of allergies using birch buds. 1 st. l. raw materials pour 0.5 liters of water, boil for 15 minutes. Drink 150 ml 3-4 times a day before meals.
Folk remedies include motherwort infusion, which is used to wash the nose and gargle. Pour 1 part of the herb with 5 parts of boiling water, leave for 2 hours. You can also influence cats with folk remedies: it is recommended to bathe pets often in this infusion.
It is advisable to regularly add 1 tsp to food. zabrus. Honeycomb Wax Seal - good medicine from allergies to cats.

Prevention

The purpose of the traditional primary prevention- prevention of acute sensitivity of the body to the tissues of the cat. The main task is to strengthen its protective forces and isolation from allergens. If a person already has an allergy, the goal of secondary prevention is to prevent its recurrence.

When purchasing pets, it should be borne in mind that there are a number of hypoallergenic cat breeds. It:

Siberian;
devon rex;
cornish rex;
allergy;
Balinese;
Javanese;
oriental shorthair;
Arabian Mau;
sphinx.

What to do to make the fight against cat allergens successful? Doctors advise:

Minimize contact with cats
keep furry pets out of the bedroom;
always fill the bed with a bedspread in the morning;
do not sleep on feather pillows - products with artificial fillers are safer;
change the litter in the cat's litter box several times a day;
bathe her twice a week;
sterilize (castrate) the animal;
get rid of carpets, blankets, rugs, as they accumulate a lot of allergens;
use air ionizers, they generate useful negative ions and help to overcome dust, depositing it on washable wallpaper;
freshen up your home with daily wet cleanings, wearing rubber gloves;
avoid stress, avoid dietary errors, excessive medication that can weaken the immune system.

Food products should be chosen hypoallergenic, and dishes should be thoroughly heat treated during their preparation. At allergic disease it is necessary to refuse for the duration of treatment from spicy, salty, sour foods, smoked meats, canned food, fish, milk, any citrus fruits, chocolate and other sweets.

Is it necessary to get rid of an animal with an allergy to it? The opinion of doctors is unequivocal: yes, and without delay. An exception to this rule is possible if pathological reactions to the cat occur in mild form and rarely. Antihistamine tablets and home hygiene will help to ensure that the allergy goes away. But if her attacks are repeated often, the animal will have to find another address of residence. After all, the symptoms of the disease worsen over time, as a result of which severe chronic diseases can develop.