Despite the ancient roots of the appearance of such a disease as allergy, the term itself appeared relatively recently. Doctors of different times are in a continuous search for answers to explain the reaction of the human body. This article will discuss how dog allergies manifest, their causes and sources.
Causes of dog allergies in the human body
The appearance of an allergy is explained by the immune response to the appearance of a foreign object, regardless of its nature, that enters the body. Often such an impact is excessive and only harms a person. The ability of lymphocytes is to identify foreign bodies from the very birth of the child. Based on this feature, allergic reactions are less common in those people who have de alt with pets from an early age.
Allergies are explained by the fact that antibodies appear in human blood, the purpose of which is to counteract allergens. ATIn this case, the protective bodies of the body are formed in excess, as a result of which unpleasant symptoms are observed in a person. Dog allergies cannot be completely cured. However, thanks to drugs, it is possible to lull the body's vigilance by reducing the amount of allergens surrounding it.
How does an allergy to dogs manifest itself. Who is she threatening? Can children get allergic to dogs? Let's try to find answers to these questions.
Heredity
However, not all people have allergic reactions to dogs to the same extent. Some human organisms do not react at all to four-legged friends, while others experience discomfort with varying degrees of success.
How do dog allergies manifest? The most unfortunate people have to deal with severe symptoms. Why is there such selectivity? First of all, heredity plays a big role. Provided that one of the parents of the child has an allergy, then the probability of its transmission by inheritance is 50%. If both adults suffer from the disease, then this figure rises to 70%. In this case, the type of allergy does not affect tolerance. For example, a mother may have a stuffy nose while the spikelets are in bloom, or a father may have an allergic reaction to certain foods.
How long does it take to get allergic to dogs? She does not keep herself waiting. Like any allergy, it makes itself felt immediately. The main thing is not to confuse it with some other allergic reaction.
Associated factors
Even if the parents did not “reward” their child with an allergy, this does not mean that he has lifelong protection. A huge amount of aggressive substances that surround each person contributes to the appearance in the body of a tendency to allergic reactions. Ecology, food intake and invisible pathogens also have a significant impact on the deterioration of immunity.
Even the appearance of allergic reactions to dogs is facilitated by past diseases, which take a large amount of strength from the human body. Based on this, heredity is not in the first place when a negative reaction of the body to a pet appears.
Manifestation of allergies to dogs in infants and children
The main symptoms of allergic reactions in a child's body have a similar manifestation with exposure to other allergens. In some cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor. How do dog allergies manifest in children? Here are the main symptoms:
- Rhinitis and frequent sneezing.
- Swelling of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract.
- Dry cough.
- Red eyes and shedding tears.
- Appearance of skin irritations.
When these symptoms appear, it is better not to take risks in the hope that the child's body will cope with the disease on its own, as the situation may worsen.
How Do Dog Allergies Manifestbabies? They should be given special attention. For them, allergic reactions are life-threatening. Babies often suffer from allergic rhinitis. Therefore, it is urgent to show the baby to an allergist, and most likely, you will have to get rid of the animal. It must also be remembered that each child's body has an individual reaction to the dog.
Manifestation of Allergy to Dogs in Adults
Like children, adults are also prone to allergic reactions after contact with four-legged friends. How does an allergy to dogs manifest itself in adults? Due to the individual characteristics of the organism, the disease in each person manifests itself in a different form. First of all, the main blow falls on the organs of vision, respiratory tract and skin. The eyes begin to redden and itch, profuse lacrimation appears, the eyelids swell. In those areas of the skin where there was contact with the animal, a rash and dermatitis may occur. The person begins to sneeze and cough, nasal congestion appears. In severe cases, the victim will experience bronchial spasm and asthma, pressure in the ears, and hearing may deteriorate. The source of the allergy may not be directly a dog, but food, filler and other related care items.
How long does it take for a dog allergy to show up? Yes, just like every allergic reaction - almost immediately after exposure to the source.
Dog hair is not the main source of allergies
To reduce exposure to an allergen, you need to reduce itquantity. It is not dog hair that causes an allergic reaction, as many mistakenly believe. The main causative agent of the disease is a foreign protein that is located on the surface of the animal's hairline. It is presented in the form of saliva, sebaceous secretions, exfoliated skin particles. The amount of allergen depends on various factors related to the condition and nutrition of the dog. According to some studies, black animals increase the likelihood of allergies in humans, unlike white pets.
Despite numerous attempts to develop a dog breed that will not cause allergic reactions in the human body, no success has yet been achieved in this direction. However, some types of animals allow allergy sufferers to lead a normal life.
Varieties of safe dogs
How an allergy to dog hair manifests itself, we already know. Therefore, if such a nuisance does happen, then hairless breeds will be the best option here. In this case, the amount of allergen carried around the apartment on wool is significantly reduced. The absence of undercoat also has a beneficial effect.
Wire-haired breeds. It is necessary to pluck out dying wool in a timely manner. This procedure should be performed by a person who does not have allergic reactions.
Small breeds. The amount of allergen in small dogs is significantly different compared to large animals, so the reaction of the human body will begin to manifest itself inminor form.
Allergies are no joke
If allergic reactions occur in young children, then the dog will need to be disposed of. A fragile children's body cannot adequately withstand all threats. This workaround also applies to people who have severe dog allergies.
If a person has harmless symptoms, such as itchy skin, a runny nose or watery eyes, then you can do without expelling a four-legged friend from the apartment. To do this, you should pay attention to the he alth of the dog in order to reduce the release of aggressive protein. Therapeutic measures include vaccination, extermination of parasitic organisms, a complete diet with the addition of vitamin complexes and getting rid of chronic diseases, if any.
In the absence of a solution to the problem of allergy to dogs, first of all, it is necessary to consult a highly qualified doctor. Because even the most minor symptoms can develop into serious chronic diseases over time, such as asthma and decreased visual acuity. A good allergist can help you get your allergies under control through medication and a coordinated lifestyle.
Cleanliness is the key to success
Allergy to a dog, as it manifests itself, has already been sorted out. Now let's talk about how to deal with it.
Castration or sterilizationanimal significantly reduces the amount of allergen in the room, which is intensively produced in dogs during periods of hormone release. It is also necessary to monitor the cleanliness of the coat, because it is on it that aggressive protein is collected. To do this, the animal should be bathed at least once a week with special shampoos and combed out every day. All pet care must be performed by a person who does not have allergic reactions.
Special attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the room: regularly carry out wet cleaning and prevent the appearance of accumulations of dog hair in the apartment. To reduce the level of allergens, hang curtains on the windows, get rid of carpets, store bed linen in closed places and use an air purifier. Be sure to prevent stagnation of air in the room, take care of personal hygiene after contact with the animal and do not allow him to be in the bedroom.
Diagnosis of dog allergies
Allergy to a dog as it manifests itself, you already know. Now let's talk about diagnostics.
At the initial stage of diagnosis, information is studied based on a medical examination and tests are taken. The allergist at this stage determines the presence of relatives who have the disease, and the degree of manifestation of the allergy. After studying the information, the doctor determines the next steps for patients.
The next step is to conduct a laboratory blood test. Its task is to determine the level of immunoglobulin E, which will show the causesymptoms characteristic of allergies. If the result is positive for the level of the aggressive protein, the person is expected to undergo immunological tests. Based on them, you can identify the allergen and the causes that caused it. After that, you can make a decision about keeping the dog and further actions.
Another way is to do allergy tests, which take a little time. Allergen-containing substances are applied to human skin through syringes. If the area increases in size and turns red, then the test gave a positive result. With this method, you can find out that allergic reactions are not caused by a dog.
