Hamster is one of the most popular types of pets. Such demand is explained by the unpretentiousness of the rodent. Most often, these animals are found in families with children, they will easily cheer up both a child and an adult. Is it possible to be allergic to hamsters? This question is relevant if a family with a child is going to acquire a rodent. Sellers often try to convince the buyer that hamsters are completely harmless and do not cause allergies.
Reason
Many argue that the cause of allergies is animal fur. Some say that the Djungarian little hamster causes a severe form of allergy. In fact, the main cause is the saliva and dander of the animal. Sometimes an allergy develops after a rodent bite. Allergens are also present in subcutaneous fat, and all hamsters can be dangerous, no matter how thick their hair is.
Currently allergic to hamsters is notthe most common. If a person has it, the quality of life deteriorates markedly. It is important to establish the exact causes of the disease in time, and only then select the methods of therapy.
Allergy symptoms
The first signs of the disease can be divided into several groups. As a rule, an allergy to rodents manifests itself within a few hours, and in some cases 2-3 days in the form of skin symptoms, immunological reactions from the respiratory system, anaphylaxis, enteropathy.
Rash and urticaria belong to the skin type of allergic reactions. The second of these signs is expressed in the form of itchy redness on the skin. The formation of pale pink blisters occurs if a rash forms on the mucous membranes. In the acute form, the symptom lasts up to two weeks.
The systemic type of allergy (Quincke's edema) is very dangerous and can lead to serious consequences. There is an immunological reaction very quickly. Due to the accumulation of fluid, the tissues of the lips, cheeks, and eyelids swell.
Catarrhal group
The catarrhal group of symptoms includes bronchitis, rhinitis, conjunctivitis. During development, inflammation of the mucous membrane occurs. The acute form of rhinitis is known as the common cold. Conjunctivitis is an irritation of the outer shell of the eyes, resulting in photophobia, lacrimation and itching. Symptoms of allergic bronchitis include swelling, coughing, and chest pain.
Hamster allergies are often accompanied by sneezing and shortness of breath. One of the reasons for sneezing is the inhalation of particles of the hamster's epidermis,occurs in connection with the purification of the respiratory tract from irritants. The first symptoms of shortness of breath are a disorder of breathing (frequency and depth) with a feeling of lack of oxygen and heaviness in the chest.
Enteropathy
Enteropathy is a violation of the formation of enzymes that are involved in the digestive processes, there is pain in the abdomen, as well as indigestion. With the progression of the inflammatory process, the development of chronic diseases is possible.
What else can provoke a little hamster?
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is the most dangerous immunological reaction, since out of ten cases two are fatal. It develops rapidly, there is a violation of blood circulation, a decrease in the stroke volume of the heart and a decrease in blood pressure.
The first symptoms in a child are usually a runny nose, sneezing, dry cough, hoarse voice, redness of the eyes. Children often complain that their eyes itch, they do not want to eat, the condition is usually weakened. It is very important if you suspect an allergy in a child, immediately exclude his contact with a rodent, and seek help from a doctor.
Parents should stop buying a rodent if:
- the child has a predisposition to allergies;
- he often gets colds;
- allergic to other animals before.
Diagnosis
Symptoms of other diseases outwardly very similar to the manifestation of an allergy tohamsters. For example, rhinitis, which results from the presence of rodents in the home, is sometimes mistakenly compared to the common cold. To avoid such situations, it is recommended to undergo diagnostics in special treatment centers.
There are several diagnostic methods:
- Skin tests. A small amount of the allergen is applied to the skin of the hands or back. If the patient has such a type of allergic reactions as itching or redness within 15-25 minutes, then the result is positive. This method has a low cost and is easy to perform, however, there is a disadvantage, which is that the results are not perfectly accurate and have errors.
- Blood test. Skin tests do not always give an absolutely accurate result, so it is recommended to do an additional blood test. For this method, there are practically no contraindications for its use.
- Provocative tests. There are situations when neither a blood test nor skin tests can give a clear result, in such cases they resort to provocative tests. With this method, the allergen is injected nasally, directly into the bronchi and sublingually. Provocations are carried out under strict medical supervision, since the irritant can be quite pronounced. How to identify a hamster allergy?
- Elimination tests. This method is useful in cases where the patient does not have the opportunity to come to a medical institution. Elimination is the exclusion of the alleged causative agent of the immunological reaction, therefore it is not recommended to clean the cage yourself,take the animal in hand. If the pathogen is installed correctly, but after a while the symptoms will disappear.
Treatment
To eliminate the immunological reaction to hamster saliva and dander, elimination and antihistamine therapy are used, and alternative treatments are being considered as additional methods of dealing with hamster allergy.
Elimination therapy - avoiding contact with the allergen. The exclusion of the causative agent of the disease increases the quality of life of the patient. In order to protect yourself from the protein secreted by the rodent's body, you must entrust another family member with the care of the animal, do not contact the hamster, and regularly change the filler. Hamster allergies in children can be very dangerous.
Three generations of drugs
In antihistamine therapy, drugs block histamine receptors. There are three generations of drugs.
- The first generation includes "Dimedrol", "Clemastin", "Hifenadine". They are used to stop Quincke's edema and anaphylaxis. The main disadvantage of drugs is the inhibition of the central nervous system, so these drugs are contraindicated in children and pregnant women.
- The second generation includes Astemizol, Loratadin, Terfenadin. The drugs do not disrupt the functioning of the central nervous system and are prescribed for long-term use, however, toxic effects on the liver and damage to the digestive tract are possible.
- The third generation - the drugs are the mostmodern. These include: Xizal, Telfast, Erius. They are considered safe, but still have side effects in the form of insomnia, nausea, and headaches. They are usually prescribed to relieve itching and swelling. A pediatric allergist will help you choose a drug for your child.
In severe allergies, hormonal drugs are prescribed: Prednisolone, Cetirizine, Hydrocortisone and others. Such drugs quickly and effectively relieve symptoms.
To achieve effective removal of toxins from the body, it is recommended to take enterosorbents ("Polysorb", "Lignin").
To strengthen the immune system, it is advised to take immunomodulators, for example, Timolin, Likopid, Imunofan, Derinat. All of these drugs can be given in any form, such as nasal drops, eye drops.
Alternative methods are folk remedies. It is very important to be aware of the specifics of these methods. Some types of herbs can be not only useless, but also aggravate the situation, the effectiveness of alternative methods has not been scientifically proven.
With the permission of a pediatric allergist, the use of alternative treatment is permissible. So, to eliminate the symptoms of the respiratory system, they use olive oil, chamomile, peppermint.
Prevention
The best prevention of allergies is to strengthen the immune system. You need to take care of your he alth and nutrition. Avoid allergies100% possible only if you do not start a hamster in the house. People who are prone to allergies should refuse to purchase an animal. If nevertheless this happened, then contact with the pet should be minimized, and the room should be regularly ventilated. Releasing a hamster is on the floor in a room where there is no carpet. Do not let the animal bite your hands or face. Wash skin thoroughly with soap and water after contact.
Are you allergic to hamsters? The answer is unequivocal - yes, it happens.
