Pets At Home - Troubles Or Fun?

by Radoslaw Pilarski

Pets, next to saprophytes, are nowadays considered to constitute the second major group of year-around allergens and play an important role in the development of allergic diseases. In all forms of atopic allergy (atopy), the presence of allergens in the surrounding environment is a necessary condition for the allergy to develop (to produce IgE), and later to intensify the symptoms of the disease and maintain a chronic inflammation of the diseased organs. It has been proven that a direct contact with pets increases the risk of developing an allergy and later, the symptoms of asthma and rhinitis. Even people who do not have pets are exposed to contact with their allergens, and susceptible to develop to some of the allergic symptoms.

Animal allergens can be found at home, in dust samples from the floors and soft carpets. They can also be found in the air inside residential quarters and in the dust from bedroom mattresses. It is impossible to eliminate completely the risk of developing allergic diseases. Animal allergens can be detected almost everywhere in each public places, including new houses, shopping malls, doctor's offices and even newly built hospitals. Animal allergens that are most often present in samples of a home dust undergo aerolization and penetrate the respiratory tract.

Sources of animal allergens

The main sources of allergens may differ among animal species. They can be the fragments of epidermis, sebaceous and sweat gland secretion, urine, saliva, serum. Most of animal allergens are proteins and at the same time enzymes.The symptoms and mechanism of developing an allergy to animal allergens. Animal epidermis is the cause of continuous, all year-round allergic problems. Cats and dogs are the animals which often stay in a close physical contact with a man. They are considered to be the main source of antigens, which can cause allergic reactions - that is why allergies to home pets are more common than other types of such diseases.

Despite the fact that there is much more dogs than cats in people houses, among the family of atopic and inatopic animals, the dogs are less likely to cause allergic problems. A greater majority of people is allergic to cats. The common symptoms may and the results of skin tests may worsen over time, with age, much more than an allergic reaction to dogs. People who are allergic to cats, much more than those allergic to dogs will suffer from an all-year allergic rhinitis, ophthalmia and have bad results of spirometric examination. It is believed that the reason for that situation can be the nearness of this animal, and the fact that cats more often stay at home, in people's bedroom, and even in a children's bed. On the other hand, the cat-allergen is thought to be much more allergizing than the allergen of a dog. 5 per cent of people allergic to animals will suffer from ophthalmia, 9 per cent from eczema, 27 per cent will have a catarrh and 78 per cent will develop asthmatic problems. Nettle rash (urticaria) and allergic oedema (vascular motor oedema) are caused by the local activity of an allergen, which could for example, come in contact with the skin when the skin was licked by the animal. Anaphylaxis can also be an effect of an animal bite.

It is estimated that 43 per cent of all allergic patients keeps pets in their homes. Almost 10 per cent of them suffer from some serious eye, nose, skin and bronchial tubes problems. A constant exposure to allergens will intensify the symptoms of the allergy which may lead to an allergic inflammation within the respiratory tract - that is the cause of the escalation of allergic symptoms of pets' owners. Keeping animals in house with asthmatic children may worsen the symptoms of the respiratory tract confitions - catching cold, cough and shallow breathing. Getting rid of a pet will lead to an immediate recovery. A reduction of exposure to the allergen can reduce the symptoms of asthma, dry out the inflammation and overreaction of bronchial tubes.

Detection of allergy to animals

1. Medical history In each allergy, a detailed case history obtained through a conversation with a patient is crucial to determine all the possible sources of exposure to various animals. It is important to observe both a manifestation of allergic symptoms when being exposed to animals and later a relief of reactions when being isolated from the source of exposure, e.g. during holidays or a weekend. A provocative test with allergen can confirm the existence of an allergy of a patient with bronchial asthma.

2. Skin tests A preliminary detection of an allergy to animals should be confirmed by skin tests, preferably performed by pricking the patient's skin (a puncture test). When analyzing the results of skin tests, one should remember that they only prove the existence of specific IgE and do not indicates that the observed symptoms are the results of allergic reactions - in order to prove an allergy, the results of the tests performed ought to correspond to the information that can be found in the case history.

3. In vitro examinations In order to find a specific IgE in the blood serum, it is possible to perform some in vitro testing based on RIA or ELISA methodology. In routine diagnostics however, skin tests are believed to give better results. In vitro testing has some major limitations: the lack of standardization of substances used to detect some allergens and a high price of such tests. If there is a serious doubt concerning the results of the skin test performed, or the test results do not correspond to the case history, or even there is no possibility to perform such tests, an in vitro examination which helps to detect a specific IgE in the blood serum can be a useful diagnostic method.

If you have an allergy to animals

One of the most effective action you can take is to eliminate from your house the allergen that is detrimental to your health. Sometimes however, it is not possible to get rid of a pet, for example, due to some emotional reasons. There are many patients who decide to tolerate excruciating allergic complaints for years, in order not to abandon their pets. If it is not possible to get rid of an animal from the nearest environment (like the house or the place of work) one can try to reduce the amount of released allergens or try to hold back their distribution. To do so, it is recommended to get rid of some cushioned furniture, carpets and carpet-like floorings where allergens can accumulate. They should be replaced with washable floor coverings and cleaned regularly by washing their surface with a disinfectant. It is also very important to use a vacuum cleaner with a proper HEPA filter.

Medical treatment

The most effective method of an allergy treatment is avoiding all allergy-provoking animals. People who cannot eliminate their contact with such animals have to be treated pharmacologically. The treatment is identical to the one used in other forms of allergy. It requires to take both the symptom-relieving medicines and a continuous anti-inflamatory treatment. One should understand however, unless the patient eliminates their contact with an allergy-provoking animal, and is exposed even for a short periods of time, to high concentration of allergens, he or she will suffer from allergic reactions, even if he or she continues to take right medicines. Immunotherapy is another method of treatment of an allergy to animals. When compared to adults, children who undergo a desensitization, have a tendency to a stronger immunological response.

Pets At Home - Troubles Or Fun?

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