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With thanks to Elizabeth (Moriarte)
Pet allergy
A medical condition in which a person's immune system can become confused and start to identify harmless substances (such as pet fur) as potential dangerous to the body, and activates an immune response. The symptoms of this response can range from a mild runny nose to a full-blown asthma attack.
The body's immune response can be instantaneous or can take weeks or months to emerge, which can cause extreme difficulty and trauma to affected pet owners, who may have been unaware of the problem for some time following the arrival of a new pet; they are then faced with the dilemma of whether to re-home an animal they have become very attached to, or seek treatment. The latter can be a difficult course to take, due to the under-provision of specialist allergy clinics in this country, and unsympathetic responses from GPs who are largely untrained and inexperienced in these matters.
Contrary to common belief, allergies can develop quite suddenly. Even if you have previously never had a problem with pet fur, if you are generally sensitive to other known allergens, or have a family history of allergic conditions, you have a higher risk of developing a problem spontaneously at any stage of life.
When the allergy affects your nose and nasal passages it is known as rhinitis; When the allergy affects skin: dermatitis, eczema or nettle rash (urticaria) When the allergy affects your chest/bronchial airways: asthma
Rhinitis and skin irritation are mainly treated with what are known as topical steroids (hydrocortisone cream; Flixonase/Beconase sprays) In asthma, the first line treatment are bronchodilator 'reliever' inhalers, which do not contain steroids, and 'preventer' inhalers which do. Antihistamene tablets are also used to damp down some of the symptoms of inflammation. These medications are effective at controlling mild or seasonal allergies, but may not be very helpful if the allergy is severe and ongoing.
However, some people do make the decision to carry on and live with the problem, and in some instances some people find they build up a natural immunity over time. Here are some experiences of people living with this problem on this board: Arrrrgh! - allergy thread
Links NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia: asthma NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia: allergy
Wikipedia has a good range of articles ranging from good layman's explanations to more detailed explanation of the technical nature of the immune responses involved:
Wikipedia entry: Allergy Wikipedia entry: Immunotherapy Wikipedia entry: Hypersensitivity ( A more technical explanation of allergy)
Immunotherapy (Allergy injections)
A good summary of Immunotherapy methods/practice. Note this is a private clinic, this is not an endorsement of their treatment, it is merely a good summary of current practice.
Immunotherapy information
Specialist NHS allergy clinics in the UK Immunotherapy is currently unavailable in this country outside of 6 dedicated allergy clinics, which must have full resuscitative equipment should an adverse reaction occur following an injection. Use this list to check if you have been referred to a speciast with the appropriate expertise; you are entitled to ask your GP to refer you for a second opinion if you are not happy with your diagnosis or treatment.
Living with pet allergies - hints and tips and some info on alternative medicine Living with cat allergy Pet Allergy Factsheet Air purification/Hepa filters
Allergy Societies/Support groups British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology information on NHS allergy clinics and campaign for better allergy services Allergy Uk Google Groups:alt.med.allergy
Research into causes of allergy/links with autoimmunity The Defense of Dirt - article in British Medical Journal Mycobacteria and other environmental organisms as immunomodulators for immunoregulatory disorders Article on relationship of allergy/autoimmune conditions and 'helper' T-cells
Pet allergy
A medical condition in which a person's immune system can become confused and start to identify harmless substances (such as pet fur) as potential dangerous to the body, and activates an immune response. The symptoms of this response can range from a mild runny nose to a full-blown asthma attack.
The body's immune response can be instantaneous or can take weeks or months to emerge, which can cause extreme difficulty and trauma to affected pet owners, who may have been unaware of the problem for some time following the arrival of a new pet; they are then faced with the dilemma of whether to re-home an animal they have become very attached to, or seek treatment. The latter can be a difficult course to take, due to the under-provision of specialist allergy clinics in this country, and unsympathetic responses from GPs who are largely untrained and inexperienced in these matters.
Contrary to common belief, allergies can develop quite suddenly. Even if you have previously never had a problem with pet fur, if you are generally sensitive to other known allergens, or have a family history of allergic conditions, you have a higher risk of developing a problem spontaneously at any stage of life.
When the allergy affects your nose and nasal passages it is known as rhinitis; When the allergy affects skin: dermatitis, eczema or nettle rash (urticaria) When the allergy affects your chest/bronchial airways: asthma
Rhinitis and skin irritation are mainly treated with what are known as topical steroids (hydrocortisone cream; Flixonase/Beconase sprays) In asthma, the first line treatment are bronchodilator 'reliever' inhalers, which do not contain steroids, and 'preventer' inhalers which do. Antihistamene tablets are also used to damp down some of the symptoms of inflammation. These medications are effective at controlling mild or seasonal allergies, but may not be very helpful if the allergy is severe and ongoing.
However, some people do make the decision to carry on and live with the problem, and in some instances some people find they build up a natural immunity over time. Here are some experiences of people living with this problem on this board: Arrrrgh! - allergy thread
Links NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia: asthma NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia: allergy
Wikipedia has a good range of articles ranging from good layman's explanations to more detailed explanation of the technical nature of the immune responses involved:
Wikipedia entry: Allergy Wikipedia entry: Immunotherapy Wikipedia entry: Hypersensitivity ( A more technical explanation of allergy)
Immunotherapy (Allergy injections)
A good summary of Immunotherapy methods/practice. Note this is a private clinic, this is not an endorsement of their treatment, it is merely a good summary of current practice.
Immunotherapy information
Specialist NHS allergy clinics in the UK Immunotherapy is currently unavailable in this country outside of 6 dedicated allergy clinics, which must have full resuscitative equipment should an adverse reaction occur following an injection. Use this list to check if you have been referred to a speciast with the appropriate expertise; you are entitled to ask your GP to refer you for a second opinion if you are not happy with your diagnosis or treatment.
Living with pet allergies - hints and tips and some info on alternative medicine Living with cat allergy Pet Allergy Factsheet Air purification/Hepa filters
Allergy Societies/Support groups British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology information on NHS allergy clinics and campaign for better allergy services Allergy Uk Google Groups:alt.med.allergy
Research into causes of allergy/links with autoimmunity The Defense of Dirt - article in British Medical Journal Mycobacteria and other environmental organisms as immunomodulators for immunoregulatory disorders Article on relationship of allergy/autoimmune conditions and 'helper' T-cells
