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Cat Alergies Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Physicians trying to determine the cause of an allergic reaction will compile a medical history and a list of symptoms. They will also perform a physical examination.

In addition, an allergy skin test may be performed to help diagnose the patient. This test involves introducing a small amount of an allergen to the patient’s skin to determine if the person is allergic to that allergen. If a rash or small bump develops, the patient is most likely allergic to that substance. Physicians typically test for dander first. If the test is negative, the physician may test for other allergens, such as saliva and urine.

Alternatively, a physician may order a blood allergy test. These tests look for the presence of allergy-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the bloodstream. The most commonly used blood test for allergy conditions is the radioallergosorbent test (RAST).

The main form of treatment and prevention for cat allergies is avoidance – completely avoiding contact with cats to prevent the allergic reaction from occurring. However, many cat owners are unwilling or unable to part with their pet.

Therefore, treatment for cat allergies may also include medications like antihistamines and decongestants, as well as allergy shots (immunotherapy). People who choose to keep their cats can also lower their risk for symptoms by keeping the animal out of their bedroom. They should also avoid petting, kissing or hugging the animal.

However, it should be noted that individuals with significant cat allergies, or cat allergies that lead to asthma, must remove their cats.

In the rare instance when anaphylaxis occurs, the patient will require immediate medical attention. An injection of epinephrine is required to reverse the patient’s symptoms.

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Cat Allergies Signs and Symptoms

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

The signs and symptoms of cat allergies are similar to those of other allergic conditions. Symptoms may include:

* Sneezing
* Coughing
* Wheezing
* Shortness of breath
* Stuffy nose
* Itchy and watery eyes
* Skin rash

The severity of allergic reactions to cats varies between patients. Highly sensitive people may begin experiencing symptoms within 15 to 30 minutes of exposure to cat allergens. People who are less sensitive may not develop symptoms for several days after contact with the allergens. The level of cat allergens in an environment also plays a role in the timing of a patient’s symptoms. Symptoms typically occur sooner when allergen levels are high.

In rare circumstances, a person with a cat allergy experiences anaphylaxis. This is a severe potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires emergency medical attention. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:

* Shortness of breath
* Tightness in the chest
* Swelling of the lips, face, throat or tongue
* Lowered blood pressure

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Related Allergies and Conditions

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

Cat allergies are related to a number of other conditions, including other allergies. People with pollen or dust mite allergies may be more likely to also have cat allergies. Also, people with outdoor allergies might experience reactions after contact with a cat, even if they do not have a cat allergy. This is because outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold can get caught in the cat’s hair.

Specific allergies are not inherited, though the tendency to develop an allergy is inherited. If a parent is allergic to dander, for instance, a child has a higher likelihood of developing an allergy of some type, although not necessarily to dander. The risk of developing an allergy is much higher if both parents have allergies. People who are prone to develop allergies are said to be atopic.

Cat allergies are related to other medical conditions including:

* Allergic rhinitis. An inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the nose causing nasal congestion, sniffling and sneezing. Cat allergens can cause allergic rhinitis.

* Allergic conjunctivitis. An inflammation of the tissue lining the inside of the eyelid that produces irritation and tearing of the eyes. Cat allergies can cause acute allergic conjunctivitis symptoms.

* Contact dermatitis. An inflammation of the skin that is caused by direct contact with an allergen. A red, bumpy rash may appear when the skin comes into direct contact with the proteins in cat dander, saliva, blood or urine.

* Asthma. A condition in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Asthma can be allergic and non-allergic in origin. Cat allergens can cause both acute and chronic asthma symptoms. The incidence of asthma-like symptoms in cat owners is significantly higher than those who are exposed to other animals. There is also evidence to suggest that people with cat allergies are at increased risk of developing chronic asthma. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), cats can cause severe asthma attacks in approximately 20 to 30 percent of people with asthma. Cat induced asthma can be very severe and can occur very quickly.

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Potential Causes of Cat Allergies

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

Cat allergies are caused by the proteins found in the dander, saliva, blood and urine of cats.

Dander (tiny flakes of dead skin) is continually shed by animals. Proteins that are secreted by oil glands in the cat’s skin are also attached to this dander. Since cats are constantly shedding dander, allergens are deposited around any area in which the animal is present. Dander and dried saliva are also carried by air currents, even into areas the cat has not been (e.g., air ducts, walls). The proteins in dried urine tend to stay indoors because many cats use indoor litter boxes. In contained areas, such as a home, the overall accumulation of dander, urine, blood and saliva proteins is often enough to trigger an allergic reaction in people with cat allergies.

Saliva, urine, blood and dander allergens are present in all cats, even breeds labeled as non-allergenic. There is no such animal as a hypo-allergenic cat. Regardless of breed, size and hair, all cats may cause allergic reactions. Hairless cats have dander and release that dander by grooming themselves as often as haired cats. However, male cats may produce more of the proteins that trigger allergic reactions than females or neutered male cats.

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About Cat Allergies

Monday, January 26th, 2009

People with cat allergies have allergic reactions after coming into contact with cats. A cat allergy occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance associated with the cat. The protein enters the body and starts a cascade of events that triggers the immune system and eventually leads to an allergic reaction.

Contrary to popular perception, it is not the cat’s hair that causes most allergic reactions. Rather, it is protein in flakes of skin (dander) and dried saliva, urine and blood that trigger reactions. While many animals have proteins in their saliva that can trigger allergies, cat allergies are the most common. This is because cats groom themselves continually, which results in a great deal of saliva on the animal and in the animal’s environment.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) nearly 10 million pet owners are allergic to their animals. Cat allergies may not develop quickly, sometimes appearing after more than two years of exposure. Kittens produce less dander than adult cats which is why people with cat allergies, especially children, may be able to tolerate kittens but not adult cats.

Direct contact with a cat is not needed to develop or trigger an allergy. Flakes from dander, saliva and urine proteins are extremely lightweight and easily become attached to larger particles, which can then become airborne or stick to surfaces or objects. These allergen particles remain in an environment for weeks or months after a cat has departed. In addition, cat saliva proteins dry on the cat’s hair and become airborne when the cat is stroked.

Cat allergens are even more likely to be transported through the air than dog dander. Cat dander is lighter and even stickier than dog dander, which makes it more likely that the proteins will stick to other material and be carried farther in the air. Cat allergens can be airborne for extended periods of time, even several months.

A cat does not have to live within a home for its allergens to be present. Owners that keep their cats outside may bring the cat allergens inside with them on their clothing. Studies have indicated that non-cat owners had significantly higher levels of cat dander on their clothing at the end of the working day after coming into contact with cat owners.

In some cases, the amount of cat allergen found on these individuals was quite high. Therefore, people can experience an allergic reaction to a cat without ever sharing an environment with a cat.

Cat allergen also continues to affect the lungs long after exposure. One study found that cat allergen can impair lung function in people with asthma for up to 22 hours after the animal is gone.

Some people have allergies to fleas. As a result, a flea-infested cat may trigger an allergic reaction. In this situation, it is not the cat but the fleas that are the source of the allergy. People with flea allergies develop intense itching and reddening at the bite site.

Cats and dogs are the primary causes of animal allergies. This is likely due to the fact that they are the pets most commonly kept inside of the house. However, other furred or feathered animals (e.g., ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, monkeys, horses, rabbits, birds) also cause allergies. People with cat allergies can safely keep pets without fur or feathers, such as fish, snakes and turtles.

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Cat Allergies

Saturday, January 24th, 2009

Cat allergies are a common form of allergy in the United States. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), nearly 10 million pet owners are allergic to their animals.

Cats can cause allergic reactions in people with allergies specific to cats and in people witAllergies occur when the immune system mistakes a harmless substance as being dangerous and attacksh allergic asthma, a condition in which the airways become blocked or narrowed due to an allergic reaction. Symptoms of cat allergies include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, coughing and wheezing. In rare circumstances, cat allergies cause the severe and possibly life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Allergic reactions may be triggered by proteins in the cat’s dander (dried flakes of shed skin) as well as proteins in dried saliva, blood and urine. These proteins are very light and sticky and can adhere to places where the cat is not present, such as walls and air ducts. Cats groom themselves continually, which produces a regular supply of dried saliva proteins that can then become airborne and be transported throughout a cat’s environment and beyond.

The most effective method to prevent allergy symptoms is avoidance – completely avoiding contact with the allergen to prevent an allergic reaction from occurring. Although medications (e.g., antihistamines, decongestants) and allergy shots (immunotherapy) can be used to relieve or lessen allergy symptoms, cat owners with significant cat allergies must remove the animal from their home. Cats must also be removed from the homes of people with cat induced asthma.

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Questions For Your Doctor About Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

Preparing questions in advance can help patients to have more meaningful discussions with their physicians regarding their conditions. Patients may wish to ask their doctor the following questions regarding hypersensitivity pneumonitis:

1. Do my symptoms indicate hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
2. What tests will you use to determine if I have hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
3. What type of hypersensitivity pneumonitis do I have?
4. What may have caused me to develop hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
5. What are my treatment options?
6. When can I expect my symptoms to subside?
7. Does this condition pose a danger to my overall health?
8. What steps can I take to prevent symptoms related to hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
9. Do you recommend that I change my occupation?

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Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Treatment and Prevention

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

Once the allergen responsible for symptoms has been identified, avoidance will be the chief form of treatment. Patients should try to limit or eliminate exposure to the allergen. In some cases, this may require a change of occupation. In other cases, steps can be taken to reduce exposure, such as:

* Wearing a mask when exposed to the allergen
* Improving ventilation in an environment where the allergen is present
* Using an air filtration system
* Regularly cleaning humidifiers and heating and cooling systems

Chronic pneumonitis can be difficult to treat. Corticosteroids may be used to try and reduce inflammation. However, studies have shown that while this therapy helps to relieve symptoms initially, long-term use of corticosteroids has a negligible effect on symptoms.

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Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Diagnosis Methods

Monday, January 19th, 2009

A physician will conduct a physical examination and compile a patient medical history and list of symptoms in attempting to diagnose hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis can be easily mistaken for a case of viral pneumonia. However, hypersensitivity pneumonitis is suspected if the patient repeatedly displays symptoms after exposure to the same environment. Crackles (rales) from the lungs are often heard when a stethoscope is used to examine the chest of a patient with hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Tests used to diagnose the disease include:

* Chest x-rays. Small, diffuse nodules may appear on an x-ray of a patient with symptoms of acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis. These will disappear once symptoms subside. Evidence of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis may be evident on x-rays in the form of scarred lung tissue.

* Pulmonary function tests. During a bout of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, test results are likely to show a marked decline in forced vital capacity, total lung capacity and preserved airflow.

* Complete blood count. This is a screening test often used to diagnose various disorders. The presence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis is likely to be indicated by an increase in immunoglobulins and white blood cells.

* Hypersensitivity pneumonitis antibody panels and skin testing. These can be done to identify the specific offending molds, bacteria and particles.

* Aspergillus precipitins test. A laboratory test that detects antibodies in the blood resulting from exposure to the fungus Aspergillus.

* High-resolution CT scan of the chest. A test that allows for multiple x-rays to be taken from different angles around the patient.

* Bronchoscopy with washings or transtracheal biopsy. This is a procedure in which a bronchoscope (a flexible fiber optic instrument used to view the airways) is inserted through the nose or mouth and lung-tissue specimens are collected.

In some cases, a challenge test may be performed to pinpoint the responsible allergen. A small amount of the suspected allergen will be introduced to the patient, and any reaction will be studied. Challenge tests can produce potentially dangerous allergic reactions and should only be performed in a proper healthcare setting under the guidance of a physician.

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Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Signs and Symptoms

Sunday, January 18th, 2009

Symptoms of acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis usually occur after heavy exposure to an allergen and include:

* Cough
* Fever
* Chills
* Shortness of breath
* Chest tightness
* Headache
* Body aches
* Malaise (general ill feeling)
* Feeling rundown
* Nausea

These symptoms can persist for up to 18 hours, but usually resolve once the individual is away from the allergen for a period of time. However, re-exposure to the allergen is likely to trigger symptoms again.

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