Hair allergy

Hair allergy is one of the most common allergic reactions in people with various pets. According to statistics, about 15% of the world's population suffers from allergies to the wool of domestic or wild animals. In spite of this, this fact practically does not stop people from communicating with animals and they continue to closely contact them at a party, a zoo, or at home. Usually, an allergy to animal hair does not occur immediately, but develops gradually, and this period usually stretches for several years.

Most often, the disease manifests itself after close contact with cats or dogs, even if they have little or no hair. Dogs in general are such "walking allergens" themselves, as their woolen cover is renewed constantly, but despite this, the allergy to the wool of dogs is diagnosed much less often than allergies to the fur of cats. The main provoking allergen are specific proteins secreted by the skin glands of animals. In addition, these proteins can be contained in the urine and saliva of the animal. These allergens due to their very small size are very easily spread with air masses. After contact with the mucous membranes and skin of the sensitized organism, these allergens cause a very strong allergic response. Animal allergy can also be triggered by fish food, feathers, bird droppings, ant eggs, the products of vital activity of various rodents( rats, hamsters, mice, guinea pigs, etc.).

Even unaware of this, the owners of all pets are active carriers of their allergen-allergen-distributed

Allergy to wool - symptoms of

The symptoms of allergy to animal hair are very similar to the symptoms of allergy to pollen of plants. They include: a short-term asthmatic attack, lacrimation, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion. The time period of the course of this type of allergy can range from several hours to six months, and this is quite a serious condition and the patient must be under the supervision of an allergist all this time.

The main symptoms of wool allergy:

• Urticaria, neurodermatitis, eczema

• Hyperemia of the skin, severe itching

• Allergic conjunctivitis, eyelid edema, tearing

• Various rashes, usually in the form of a small rash

• Allergic rhinitis, sneezing, mucusfrom the nose

• Shortness of breath, asthma attacks

• It is rare to develop such an extremely serious illness as asthma

As a result of the fact that most often the hair allergy is caused by dogs and cats, below we will consider thistwo types of allergies alone

allergy to dog hair

to provoke allergic reactions, after the family cat, dog stand in second place. First of all I want to note that there are no hypoallergenic breeds of dogs, and short-haired dogs in terms of development of an allergic reaction are much more aggressive long-haired, since the main Can F1 allergen is contained in the skin of the dog. In addition, an allergy to dogs can cause living in dog hair is constantly tiny mites. Even despite careful systematic cleaning of the premises, the Can F1 allergen skillfully hides in toys, curtains, carpets and furniture, keeping its vitality to several months.

The main symptoms of allergy to dogs: tearing, red eyes, hoarseness of voice, dry cough, difficulty breathing( due to swelling of the nasopharynx), itching.

Skin symptomatology of allergy to the coat of dogs usually occurs after the saliva is directly on the skin of a person. The accumulation of allergens is any place in the body of a person, which has got saliva. The most violently on canine allergens are people who suffer from bronchial asthma. Often they develop suffocation and the subsequent swelling Acne

Allergy to cat hair

Cat hair itself is not an allergen. The development of an allergic reaction causes the secretory protein of the cat's saliva and skin. All animals of the feline family have these allergens present. Due to the fact that the cat almost continuously watches the purity of its coat and constantly licking itself, wherever it goes, lies or sits, there are allergens. With the smallest skin scales, the allergen gets in truly huge quantities on soft toys, bedding and carpeting. It should be noted that cats are much more allergens than cats. Also, many other allergens the cat secretes with urine. In short, wherever these pets live, allergens literally hover in the ambient air, and their spread is promoted by carpets, upholstered furniture and household dust.

Symptoms of allergy to cat fur are typical symptoms of all allergic reactions, with only one peculiarity - the first manifestations are nasal congestion and itching, which is often confused with the symptoms of colds.

The main symptoms of allergies to cats: itching all over the body, swelling of the face, shortness of breath, severe lachrymation, a feeling of sore throat, hoarseness of voice, dry frequent cough, hives, triggering of asthmatic attack, swelling of Quincke.

Also want to debunk the myth that there are hypoallergenic breeds of cats that, due to their lack of wool, are not capable of causing an allergic reaction. This is not true! Sphynx, lefty and other cats with complete lack of wool cover, just like saliva and skin particles, release aggressive allergens to the environment

Wool allergy -

treatment Unfortunately, the only effective way to cope with the allergy to the animal's fur is to refuse keeping the pet, soHow all existing treatments are half measures that can reduce the frequency and intensity of exacerbations, but not cure allergies.

With the treatment of a mild type of this type of allergy, nasal aerosols and antihistamines can quite successfully cope. In case of more severe allergic manifestations, after consultation with an allergist, corticosteroid preparations are usually prescribed. In the event of asthmatic attacks, reception of antiasthmatic drugs is indicated.

Immunotherapy is by far the best method to reduce any allergic reactions. This method consists in a long-term process of hyposensitization, when gradually increasing small doses of a provoking allergen are injected into the skin, which stimulate the immune defense to produce appropriate antibodies capable of preventing allergic manifestations in the future.