Hair allergy is a common form of allergy. The most common is allergy (allergy) to dog and cat hair, others are diagnosed with rabbit or guinea pig allergy. What are the causes of hair allergies? What are the symptoms of a hair allergy and what is the treatment of a hair allergy?

Contents:

  1. Hair allergy (allergy) - causes
  2. Hair allergy (allergy) - symptoms
  3. Which animals cause allergies?
  4. Hair allergy (allergy) - diagnosis
  5. Hair allergy (allergy) - treatment

Hair allergyis a syndrome of reactions to allergens such as pet hair. The most common hair allergy iscat hair allergyand dog hair allergy - it is estimated that it affects about 15-20 percent. allergy sufferers.

The hair of the guinea pig, rabbit, horse and feathers of domestic birds (chickens, canaries, parrots) is a very strong allergen, however, due to the lower popularity of these animals, allergies related to them are proportionally less diagnosed than allergic to hairdog or cat.

Hair allergy (allergy) - causes

When talking about animal hair allergy, we are actually using a mental shortcut. The allergen is not so much the hair of a cat or a dog, but proteins found in the epidermis, sweat, sebum, urine and saliva of pets.

Exfoliated epidermis or remnants of your pet's secretions are present in our home, even if we take great care of the pet's hygiene and the cleanliness of the apartment. They float in the air, settle on furniture and carpets, where they bind with dust particles, so a person allergic to hair has no chance to completely isolate himself from allergens.

Hair allergy is caused by a reaction of the immune system, which, under the influence of the allergen, increases the production of mucus in the body, which makes breathing difficult, causes bronchial muscle spasms or inflammatory reactions such as urticaria.

Hair allergy (allergy) - symptoms

The body's reaction to the hair allergen varies. The most common symptoms of hair allergy are:

  • rhinitis, or runny nose
  • itching in the nostrils and stuffy nose
  • itching and tearingeyes
  • sneezing
  • cough
  • itchy skin
  • eyelid swelling
  • erythema or urticaria

Sometimes the symptoms of hair allergy are much more violent and dangerous - in exceptional cases, contact with the allergen may cause laryngeal edema, making breathing difficult, shortness of breath (especially in people with bronchial asthma) or anaphylactic shock, characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure blood.

Which animals cause allergies?

  • Cat allergy- the huge number of cats in the environment means that allergens from cat hair can be in the air even in homes where these animals are not present. Cat allergens are mainly found in the sebaceous glands - they are stronger in males who have more of them (studies show that castration reduces sebum secretion and indirectly reduces the risk of allergic reactions in the owner). The most common symptoms of cat hair allergy are coughing, shortness of breath and runny nose.
  • Dog allergy- the source of the allergens is the dog's epidermis. Whether they are strong or not depends on the breed of the animal (and therefore the appearance of the coat - the most dangerous are dogs that shed) and its gender. The most common symptoms of dog hair allergies are runny nose, conjunctivitis, and hives. Occasionally, an allergy may trigger the onset of bronchial asthma.
  • Rabbit allergy- allergens are present in rabbit saliva, epidermis and urine. Longhair rabbits are the most sensitizing, as they lick themselves more often, leaving remnants of saliva with allergens on their fur. Allergic reactions are manifested by runny nose, watery eyes, coughing.
  • Allergy to domestic birds- allergy is caused by the body's reaction to feathers. Most often they sensitize parakeets, canaries, but also birds with which we do not have direct contact, e.g. pigeons or chickens living in our environment. Symptoms include runny nose, shortness of breath, and sneezing attacks.
  • Guinea pig allergy- this animal has very strong allergens - 2 out of 3 guinea pig owners are allergic to their hair. Symptoms include rhinitis, watery eyes, conjunctivitis, sometimes a swollen throat and a scratchy feeling in the mouth.
  • Hamster allergy- just like in a rabbit, proteins found in saliva, sebum and urine are responsible for allergy. Hamster hair allergy may be manifested by runny nose, rash, conjunctivitis.

It is worth remembering that in the case of rodents, it can sensitize both the animal itself and the sawdust or hay with which their cage is laid.

Hair allergy (allergy) - diagnosis

Any ownera pet showing signs of allergy should see a doctor as soon as possible. The disease requires recognizing its cause in order to avoid contact with the allergen, and also to treat it.

Underestimating the problem may, firstly, reduce the quality of life of an allergic person, and also lead to complications (often bronchial asthma develops from allergies).

To confirm the cause of the allergy (we usually suspect an allergy to animal hair, because alarming symptoms always appear after contact with the pet), the doctor will order allergy tests. They will help to diagnose the cause of allergy and select medications.

The most common way to detect a harmful allergen is to perform skin allergy tests. In adults and older children, prick tests are carried out: on the forearm, the skin is gently punctured in several places and there are drops of various allergens introduced there so that they enter the blood.

After a dozen or so minutes, it is checked whether the reaction has arisen and what its nature is: itching, redness means that the allergen sensitizes the patient.

In young children, blood allergy tests are performed to assess the concentration of specific antibodies against specific allergens. The tests are not always reliable - if they are carried out when the child has not been in contact with the allergen, they give a negative result.

Hair allergy (allergy) - treatment

The most effective way to get rid of allergies is to avoid contact with the allergen. While in the case of food allergens, you can sometimes completely exclude them from the diet, inhalation allergens, such as proteins from animal hair, are difficult to eliminate from your life (they are found all around us, not only at home, but also on the street).

Therefore, it is necessary to treat allergies by administering antihistamines, bronchodilators for people suffering from shortness of breath or using topical medications - e.g. ointments for urticaria.

Antihistamines are preparations that block the histamine receptor that causes allergic reactions. Among them are drugs based on cetirizine, loratadine and desloratadine. Thanks to them, bothersome symptoms such as runny nose, cough or watery eyes disappear.

SEE ALSO: Over-the-counter allergy vials. What over-the-counter allergy medications to take?

However, you should be aware that these drugs alleviate the symptoms of allergy, but do not eliminate its cause.

2nd and 3rd generation antihistamines do not cause side effects such as cardiodepressivity or symptoms of the nervous system. However, it may cause drowsiness orover-agitation (e.g. in young children).

People who have had anaphylactic shock due to an allergy should carry a dose of adrenaline with them.

The way to fight allergy is also desensitization - this is the so-called specific immunotherapy, consisting in regular subcutaneous administration (in the form of injections) of ever greater doses of the allergen, which the body learns to tolerate.

Thanks to this, he stops reacting negatively to contact with substances that are dangerous for him. Desensitization is most effective in young children (however, it should not be used in toddlers under the age of 5).

Sometimes the desensitization therapy lasts for several years. The effectiveness of desensitization with cat allergens has been confirmed by scientific research. Nevertheless, the observations of doctors confirm that immunotherapy with animal allergens gives weaker effects than desensitization with e.g. house dust mite allergens.

Category:

Allergies