Learning how to identify symptoms of an animal allergy is very important. A few minutes after contact with the animal, the affected individual may experience some nasal discharge, redness of the eyes, cough, eczema, hives, and so on. More serious symptoms are possible: asthma attack, angioedema with swelling of the face, and blocked airways that can cause death by suffocation.
Seeing a specialist for treatment of Pet Allergies in Elizabethtown KY is a smart move.
Consultation
At a distance, an examination may show no particular anomaly. The specialist will then ask their patient a series of questions that will help them figure out the cause of the allergy. Identifying the animal that caused the allergy is half the battle.
About 3% of the population is allergic to pets. Pet allergies are behind dust mites and pollen allergies. Allergens are present everywhere: in hair, saliva, secretions, urine, and dead skin.
Complementary examinations
Exams are very useful for diagnosing Pet Allergies in Elizabethtown KY. The exams consist of:
- Skin tests (pricks tests or intra-dermal) that consist of injecting small amounts of common allergens into the skin, which are designed to reproduce cutaneous manifestations of the allergy, at the very least.
- The determination of antibodies or immunoglobulins during a blood test.
Evolution of the disease
The severity of an allergy is variable but can lead to the death of a patient (in rare cases). The treatment of pet allergies is based on the responsible animal. When it is impossible to separate the animal from the patient, desensitization by an allergist is the next step.
This helps the body to gradually become accustomed to the allergy by administering increasing doses of the allergen in question by intradermal injection or sublingually. Anti-allergy medications may also be prescribed.
Prevention of animal allergies
Ideally, it is better to distance yourself from the source of the allergy. If despite all this, the patient still comes in contact with the allergen, there are some ways to avoid the allergen. For starters, wash your hands after coming into contact with the animal.
Avoid carpets, pillowcases, stuffed animals and all coatings on which allergens can be deposited. Regularly clean the house with a vacuum cleaner and wash everything possible at high temperatures. Lastly, thoroughly clean the house and use aerators with effective filters. Get more information here.
