Diagnosis
If there is a suspicion of an allergy, it can nowadays be quickly determined with a so-called “prick test“. Many ENT physicians offer this test. The allergic reaction is deliberately provoked mainly on the forearm in order to determine the exact trigger.
For this purpose, a structured aqueous solution containing the allergen is dripped onto the skin at various points on the forearm. In the case of dog hair allergy the solution contains the protein “Can f1”, in the case of cat hair allergy the protein “Fel d1”. Afterwards, a small needle is pricked into the arm at the same place, just to open the uppermost skin layer.
If there is an allergy to the applied protein, this area starts to itch in the following minutes and forms a reddish wheal. After about 15 minutes, the symptoms can be read exactly to determine the allergies. Here you can find more information: The prick testThe cost of the test can vary depending on the amount of substances tested.
Usually some substances are tested together to get the best possible overview of the allergies. Each substance that is tested costs about 5€. However, if there is even a slight suspicion of allergies, the health insurance companies will cover the prick test in any case.
Therapy and Prophylaxis
The therapy of an animal hair allergy is significantly related to the severity of the allergy. If it concerns an animal hair allergy, which occurs only with direct contact with the animal, then the most important prophylaxis, also for children, is to avoid the contact with the animal and to prevent that the animal jumps on furniture as for example the bed. In this way it can be avoided that an allergic contact eczema occurs.
If contact eczema has already occurred, it is recommended to calm the itching first by cooling it, for example with cold water. If the contact dermatitis persists for several days, you can first apply mild creams yourself, for example with hydrocortisone. In heavier cases, the physician can prescribe stronger Cortison containing creams, these may not be used however in the face and should be also ausgeschlichen, in order to avoid the Rebound effect in such a way specified.
The rebound effect describes the reoccurrence of contact eczema without repeated contact with the animal, due to the cortisone cream being taken off too suddenly. In the case of an allergy-induced conjunctivitis, direct contact between the conjunctiva and the animal’s fur need not have occurred. Here it is sufficient that the animal was first stroked and then a little later rubbed its eyes with the appropriate hand.
As a prophylaxis it is suitable here to wash the hands thoroughly after each contact with the potential trigger of the animal hair allergy. However, there is also the case where the mere presence of the animal is sufficient to trigger a reaction of the conjunctiva, in which case it is recommended to avoid the animals. If an allergic conjunctivitis has occurred despite the precautions taken, the eye should be rinsed very carefully at first.
Even if the eyelashes are covered with pus in the morning, they should first be washed carefully with warm water without soap. To soothe the eye, anti-allergenic eye drops are well suited. If pus develops as described above, an eye doctor should be consulted.
These eye drops are often the medication Vividrin® Eye Drops. More information on this topic can be found at: Vividrin Acute Eye Drops If a sudden shortness of breath occurs due to an allergy to animal hair, the doctor should be informed of this event so that he can prescribe a fast acting spray. These sprays are usually active ingredients that quickly dilate the bronchial tubes, so-called beta-mimetics.
These act on the beta receptors in the lungs and, by dilating the airways, facilitate the supply of oxygen. A side effect of these drugs can be an accelerated pulse, since another beta receptor is located at the heart and is also stimulated by the active substance and then reacts by increasing the heart rate. In addition, an antihistamine should be taken regularly some time before a planned exposure to animals to which one is known to be allergic.
This reduces the histamine release of the mast cells upon contact with the allergen and the reaction to the animal hair is weaker or in some cases even complete.Therapeutically, the avoidance of the allergen must be the main focus in the treatment of animal hair allergy. However, if symptoms are already present or the situation is unavoidable, various medications can be used at different stages of the symptoms. An important group of drugs is the group of so-called antihistamines.
They prevent the release of the messenger substance histamine, which causes the symptoms of the allergy. Antihistamines can be dosed in different strengths and can be accompanied by side effects. In cases of severe allergic reactions, other drugs must be used as a priority.
Modifications of cortisone, so-called “glucocorticoids“, can suppress the immune response and contain the allergic reaction in tablet form or as an infusion in severe allergies. They are mainly used in everyday clinical practice for allergies requiring medical treatment. In the case of so-called “anaphylaxis”, the messenger substance adrenaline may have to be administered as a spray or injection.
This stabilizes the circulation in an exuberant allergic reaction. For long-term therapy of the allergy, desensitization can be performed. Nowadays, these can be carried out by means of injections or medication over a long period of time.
The body is supplied with a weakened allergen, so that the immune system gets used to the substance. The homeopathic treatment of animal hair allergy must be made dependent on the degree of allergy. Acute emergency situation with shortness of breath and severe rhinitis cannot be treated with homeopathic remedies.
For latent allergies, however, which occur from time to time with rhinitis symptoms, homeopathic remedies can be used. For more severe forms of allergy, they can be taken as a supplement to drug treatment in order to stimulate self-healing. Typical remedies used in this case are “Calcium Carbonicum” and “Galphimia Glauca“.
In order to have a detailed homeopathic anamnesis performed, a homeopathically trained physician should be consulted. These are highly diluted active ingredients that cannot cause any side effects or damage to the body. This is intended to stimulate the body with certain information in order to stimulate the body’s own self-healing powers in the fight against allergies.
Desensitization is the only therapy method in the treatment of allergy that aims at a long-term healing and alleviation of the disease. The principle behind it is to confront the body with the triggering protein of the animal hair and to accustom it to it. The amount should be increased step by step.
The confrontation is done by injecting a solution containing the allergen. This is injected every 1-3 weeks over a period of 2-3 years. This is a complex therapy method, which provides a possibility for relief in case of constant problems and other therapy failures.
Since the animal hair allergy can also lead to chronic sinusitis, a doctor should be consulted in this case. First of all, mucolytic drugs should be taken. If this therapy is frustrating, i.e. no longer effective, the maxillary sinus, which also belongs to the paranasal sinuses, can be fenestrated into the nasal conchae so that the secretion can flow off more easily.
In addition, the animal hair allergy can lead to chronic asthma. This form of asthma is treated with various forms of beta-mimetics and cortisone derivatives. For the basic therapy there are at the beginning either long-acting beta mimetics or cortisone derivatives and for the acute attack a short acting beta mimetic.
If the asthma continues to progress the long acting beta Mimetika and the Cortisison can be given also together. A variant to get rid of the animal hair allergy forever is the hyposensitization. The substance that causes the animal hair allergy is either injected under the skin with a small syringe or placed as a tablet under the tongue.
The duration of the hyposensitization is between 2 and 5 years, during which the patient receives a new dose of the substance every 4 to 6 weeks. In the course of time the dose is increased. The aim is to produce more class G immunoglobulins, which react to the allergen, and fewer class E immunoglobulins, which promote the release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine and leukotrienes.Of course, there are risks and side effects with such a therapy.
On the one hand there is the danger that the patient reacts to the direct intake of the allergen with an allergic shock, which is an absolute emergency. Less drastic reactions are the formation of itchy wheals and redness. Anyone who wants to have a hyposensitization performed to get rid of his animal hair allergy must be aware that this is a long treatment, the termination of which can mean that the previous treatment is completely pointless. It can also happen that the hyposensitization has no effect at all on some people. Therefore, when choosing the treatment, it is always necessary to weigh up the symptoms of an animal hair allergy and its prophylaxis against the possible side effects of a therapy.
