Why allergies shouldn't prevent kids from having pets

The post Why allergies shouldn’t prevent kids from having pets: Mayo Clinic Radio Health Minute appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

ANSWER: Yes, your daughter can keep her beloved pet. There are a number of steps you can take to ease the symptoms of her pet allergy and make it comfortable for the two of them to continue enjoying their friendship.

A pet allergy is an allergic reaction to proteins found in an animal’s skin cells, saliva or urine. When they trigger an allergy, these substances are called “allergens.” Any animal with fur can be the source of these allergens, but pet allergies most commonly are associated with cats and dogs.

Pet allergies often are triggered by exposure to pet saliva or the dead flakes of skin, called “dander,” a pet sheds. Dander is a particular problem because it is very small and can remain airborne for long periods of time with the slightest bit of air circulation. Dander collects easily in upholstered furniture, and it sticks to clothing.

For people with pet allergies, exposure to these allergens can lead to various symptoms. The most common include sneezing; a runny nose; itchy, red or watery eyes; nasal congestion; and postnasal drip.

To reduce the effects of a pet allergy, the first step is to try nonprescription remedies. Several over-the-counter medications can help relieve allergy symptoms. For example, antihistamines ease itching, sneezing and runny nose by reducing the production of an immune system chemical, called “histamine,” that is active in an allergic reaction.

When symptoms are more severe, or if they continue despite regular use of over-the-counter allergy medication, then prescription medication may be necessary. Corticosteroids delivered as a nasal spray often can reduce inflammation and control symptoms. The medication montelukast (Singular) reduces production of another immune system chemical, which also can help.

Allergy shots may be appropriate for children who have persistent, severe allergy symptoms, despite using the maximum recommended amount of medication. Allergy shots are a form of immunotherapy that involves receiving allergens in small incremental doses. At first, the shots are given weekly, and the amount of allergens in them gradually is increased with each shot. Ultimately, the goal is to receive only one shot monthly. To be most effective, most people get allergy shots regularly for several years. The shots stop or reduce allergy symptoms by desensitizing the body’s immune system to the allergens.

In addition to medication, you can make some changes within your home to reduce your daughter’s pet allergy symptoms. For example, use high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filters to reduce airborne cat allergens. Also, consider making your daughter’s bedroom a pet-free zone, so she can sleep at night with decreased cat allergens that trigger her allergy symptoms.

A combination of allergy medication and environmental changes often can help control pet allergies, making it unnecessary to remove a family pet from the home. In almost all cases, the physical and emotional benefits pets can offer children far outweigh the problems allergies might cause. — Dr. Anupama Ravi, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

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Related Articles

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Why allergies shouldn’t prevent kids from having pets published 11/27/18
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Why you should live life more like your pets do published 6/1/18
• Consumer Health Tips: Are you allergic to your best friend? published 9/21/16

The post Mayo Clinic Q and A: A pet allergy doesn’t mean you have to live without furry family members appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

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Almost three-quarters of American homes have at least one pet in them, mostly dogs and cats. But four-legged family members can make life tough for kids who are allergic to pets.

"So it depends on that individual's genetic predisposition," Dr. Ravi says. "So if the child has significant eczema, they might slightly be at increased risk of developing a pet allergy."

Dr. Ravi says most of those pet allergy symptoms can be treated with over-the-counter antihistamines or in more severe cases prescription antihistamines.

In extreme cases, kids might need to get allergy shots.

"It's showing the immune system a small amount of the allergen and slowly desensitizing it by increasing the amount slowly with time," Dr. Ravi says.

She says it's also helpful to use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters if you have a cat and to vacuum your home regularly.

But Dr. Ravi doesn't ever tell patients to get rid of their pets.

She says the physical and emotional benefits pets can offer children far outweigh the problems allergies might cause.

"They're family members," Dr. Ravi says. "So I never counsel anybody to get rid of their pet."

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Thanksgiving may get your mouth watering in anticipation for turkey and stuffing, but it can be an anxious time for parents of kids with food allergies. With so many food options, it's too easy for a problematic food to accidentally end up on an allergic child's plate, says Dr. Ravi.

"Family members and relatives, they have the best of intentions, but they may forget that they used almond extract or some other allergenic food because, like, for example, we forget that butter contains milk. And somebody might put butter in a recipe and forget that there is dairy, or when a child has a milk allergy," Dr. Ravi says.

Someone might take a utensil from one item and scoop something else," Dr. Ravi adds. "So even that cross-contamination is very significant."

The result can be allergic reactions ranging from itchy hives, and tongue and lip swelling to throat closing and trouble breathing. Any of these reactions can be dangerous to a child.

So this holiday season, Dr. Ravi recommends parents of kids with food allergies remove all risk and doubt, and just bring foods they know are safe to family feasts.

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ANSWER: When antihistamines are not enough to control seasonal allergy symptoms, it is a good idea to see your primary care provider. He or she can do an evaluation and recommend other medications that may help. If symptoms persist, make an appointment for your son with a pediatric allergist.

Seasonal allergies, also called “hay fever” or “allergic rhinitis,” flare up for many people in the spring when blooming trees release pollen — a common allergy trigger. Symptoms of seasonal allergies include a runny nose; nasal congestion; watery, itchy and red eyes; and sneezing. Using an over-the-counter antihistamine to combat seasonal allergy symptoms is a good first step. When that medication effectively controls symptoms, no further medical testing or evaluation is needed. The duration of seasonal allergy symptoms varies; it may be years or lifelong.

When an antihistamine does not adequately relieve seasonal allergy symptoms, there are other treatment options. For example, nonprescription nasal steroid sprays, such as Flonase, may reduce nasal inflammation and runny nose. But they do not work right away. It can take up to six weeks to receive the full benefit of such medications. If your son is having a tough time managing his symptoms, he might not want to wait that long. His primary care provider may be able to offer alternatives that will offer relief more quickly.

A prescription medication called montelukast (Singulair) often can relieve nasal congestion, runny nose and sneezing. This drug works by blocking symptom-causing chemicals in the body known as leukotrienes. Typically, montelukast is used along with an antihistamine and a nasal steroid spray.

In addition to medication, there are some self-care steps you can take to reduce allergy symptoms. During spring and summer, use air-conditioning at home and in the car rather than leaving windows open. Do not hang laundry outdoors where pollen can stick to it.

Although it won’t keep symptoms from coming back, your son may receive temporary relief from nasal congestion by rinsing his nasal passages with sterile saline to flush out mucus and allergens from his nose. Squeeze bottles and neti pots designed for this purpose are available at most pharmacies.

If your son continues to struggle with symptoms despite using a combination of allergy medications, a consultation with a pediatric allergist would be in order. An allergist can conduct testing to pinpoint the specific allergens that are causing your son’s symptoms.

Once the allergens have been identified, immunotherapy may be recommended if his symptoms do not improve with a combination of antihistamines, intranasal sprays and montelukast. Immunotherapy involves administering small amounts of allergen that triggers an immune response but not enough to cause an allergic reaction. Over time, the dose of allergens in the immunotherapy is increased, so the body gets used to the allergen exposure. This process is called “desensitization.” The immune system builds up tolerance to the allergens, and allergy symptoms begin to diminish. Allergy shots are continued once a month for several years.

Traditionally, shots have been used to deliver immunotherapy for allergies. But recently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved sublingual tablets (different from sublingual drops) that can be taken orally have become available for allergen immunotherapy. The way they work is similar to allergy shots. But, unlike injections, they do not require an office visit for every dose. Patients usually take the first tablet at the allergist’s office. After that, the tablets are taken at home. — Dr. Anupama Ravi, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

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