Useful to know about ANIMAL ALLERGIES (dyreallergi)

Veronica Igorevna Sharipova

veterinarian Petstory

Allergies in cats are one of the most common reasons why pet owners visit the clinic, along with gastrointestinal disorders and diseases of the respiratory system. It is believed that in the modern world, with its constantly deteriorating environmental situation, cases of allergies in pets are becoming more and more common every year. Not all pet owners understand that reactions occur not only to food - cases of allergies to insect bites (for example, allergic flea dermatitis) and allergies to airborne allergens (atopic dermatitis) are no less common.

About cat allergies

An effective method for treating cat allergies is ultrasound therapy.
Cat allergies are something that both adults and children so often suffer from. Sometimes, even with great love for these pets, you have to give them up due to the occurrence of serious and severe allergy symptoms.

An allergy to cats, like an allergy to the fur of any other animal, is a fairly common type of allergy. 1000 people turn to allergists and ENT doctors with this problem. However, in this case it becomes known that allergic reactions in people occur not to the animals themselves and their fur, but to what accumulates on the fur of these pets (dead skin cells, proteins that make up the saliva and urine of cats, etc.). d.). People who have a weakened immune system, or whose immune system is susceptible to allergic reactions, often suffer from this type of allergy.

In any case, no matter what age and condition you notice and suspect the symptoms of an allergy to cats, be sure to contact a specialist who will help you reduce or completely eliminate the symptoms and cure the allergy forever.

Is my cat food sensitive?

If your cat vomits frequently, has diarrhea, skin irritation, poor hair condition or excessive hair loss, these may be signs of a food allergy. The most common symptoms of a food allergy or food intolerance are digestive disorders and skin irritation. If your cat has developed a food allergy or food intolerance, you may observe the following symptoms:

• vomiting or diarrhea,
• flatulence,
• frequent scratching or hair loss,
• redness and inflammation of the skin,
• chronic ear problems,
• slow growth in kittens,
• coughing, sniffling and sneezing.

IMPORTANT: Some symptoms of food allergies or food intolerances are similar to those of other serious conditions, so consult your veterinarian if you notice any of them.

Symptoms of a cat allergy

Symptoms of cat allergies vary from person to person . One patient will have them from birth, while another will have them in adulthood. One will experience unpleasant symptoms when meeting a cat, already at a distance of several meters, and will not be able to be in the same room with it, the other will notice unpleasant symptoms a few hours later, coming home from friends who have such a pet. In some cases, it is not difficult to suspect an allergy to cats, in others you have to go through several types of allergens to make sure that in this case it is an allergy to animal fur.

The main symptoms of a cat allergy are:

1. Runny or stuffy nose;
2. Sneezing and coughing, the appearance of wheezing and shortness of breath, in the most severe cases - the development of symptoms of bronchial asthma;
3. Tearfulness, redness of the eyes, pain in the eyes;
4. Redness of the skin, irritation in the place where the cat scratched or licked.

Video - diagnosis and treatment of allergies, 12:17 min

Diagnostics

The preferred method of diagnosing an allergy to a specific substance is a skin test, since allergy blood tests are not reliable. In Russia, unfortunately, these tests are difficult to access.

The only way to diagnose a food allergy is to put your cat on a special diet for 10-12 weeks, completely eliminating all flavored treats or medications. This diet is free of possible allergens and will contain substances that are new to your cat. The diet should be continued until symptoms disappear completely. Then you can switch her to the old diet (challenge diet) to see which foods cause allergic reactions. If no positive dynamics are observed on an elimination diet, this indicates that food is not the cause, which means we are talking about atopy.

Causes of cat allergies

The causes of cat allergies vary . Like any other allergy, hereditary predisposition plays an important role in its development. If parents have allergic reactions, there is a high probability of allergies in the child.

In addition, the causes of allergies to cats include a weakened immune system, which may be associated with frequent respiratory diseases and the presence of chronic foci of infection. A history of bronchial asthma often contributes to the development of allergies to cat and pet hair, which should not be forgotten.

Features in the human immune system associated with intolerance to certain foreign factors lead to an allergic reaction and the release of protective forces (certain antibodies).

Research results

Isolated AR was detected in 53 patients (23.2%). Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) was observed in 11% of cases (n=25). The combined course of bronchial asthma (BA) and AR was established in 42.1% (n=96) of children. Atopic dermatitis (AD) in combination with AR was confirmed in 16.6% (n=38) of children. 16 children (7%) had combined damage to the respiratory system and skin in the form of asthma, AR and AD.

AR in all children had a year-round course; the majority (65.4%, n=149) had a mild degree of rhinitis. Moderate AR was detected in 34.2% (n=78) of children. One child had severe AR. In most cases (78.6%, n=88) a mild intermittent or persistent course of asthma was observed, in 19.6% (n=22) a moderate course of the disease was detected, a severe course was detected in 1.8% (n=2) . 60.7% (n=68) of patients had complete control over the course of asthma according to the results of the ACT (Asthma Control Test) questionnaire.

When contacting cats, 43.4% of patients (n=99) noted an exacerbation of allergic pathology, manifested by rhinoconjunctival syndrome in 53.5% of children (n=53). Exacerbation of broncho-obstructive syndrome was detected in 14.1% (n=14) of children, contact urticaria occurred in 4 patients.

The relative level of eosinophilia in the peripheral blood of the examined children (median and interquartile range) was 5.16% [1.0%; 18.8%]. 30% (n=69) of children had increased levels of eosinophilic cationic protein. An increase in the content of total IgE was detected in 78.1% of children (n=178).

All 228 children (100%) were found to have specific IgE antibodies (sIgE) to cat epithelium and dander, the serum concentration of which was 36.7 [0.75; 100] kilounits of allergen per liter (kUA/l). Antibodies to canine epithelium were detected in 24.6% (n=56) of patients, the median and interquartile range were 10.0 [0.75; 98.2] kUA/l. Every 4th child (26.3%, n=60) had sIgE antibodies to birch pollen; their concentration was 50.65 [1; 100] kUA/l.

Eosinophilia in nasal secretions was detected in 33.8% (n=77) of children, 13.2% (n=30) had colonization of the nasal cavity with Staphylococcus aureus.

When assessing the nosological structure, as well as the severity of allergic pathology in patients of groups 1–4, no significant differences were identified (Table 1).

The average level of total IgE in patients of group 2 was 1.9 times higher than that in group 1. There were no significant differences in the level of peripheral blood eosinophilia, nasal secretions and serum eosinophil cationic protein levels.

Allergy to cats in children

Cat allergies in children occur for the same reasons as in adults and are characterized by the same symptoms. However, parents should know that if they detect allergy symptoms in their baby due to contact with a cat or other pet, as well as if there is a predisposition to such an allergic reaction (for example, there is a hereditary predisposition), be sure to consult a doctor. Only qualified medical care and unique methods for eliminating allergies will allow your baby to quickly get rid of the disease and forget about it forever.

If your child exhibits pronounced allergy symptoms when playing or interacting with a cat, which may threaten the child’s life (for example, signs of suffocation and the development of bronchial asthma), be sure to protect the child from communicating with the pet and prevent their further contacts!

Cure allergies at VERAMED

Experienced allergists and immunologists conduct consultations at the VERAMED clinics in Odintsovo and Zvenigorod. Here you can take a full range of necessary tests, quickly get results from our own laboratory, and do allergy tests under the supervision of a doctor. Also, medical centers provide treatment for allergy sufferers using the ASIT method. You can find out more about this, as well as ask questions about prices, appointment times and specialists at VERAMED clinics by calling a single phone number.

Think about your health now. Don't put off visiting your doctor!

Treatment for cat allergies

Treatment of allergies to cats in our clinic begins with an examination by an ENT doctor, after which a treatment plan will be individually selected for you, including effective and reliable methods.

We believe that treating allergies with pills and only medications that weaken the immune system is not effective. That is why our clinic offers modern methods of combating allergies, which are highly effective and lead to the complete elimination of the disease, and also strengthen the immunity of the entire body, increasing its general and local defenses.

To treat cat allergies, our doctors offer:

1. Ultrasound therapy;
2. Phytoapitherapy;
3. Capillary therapy and lymphotropic therapy;
4. Lipid therapy and apitherapy, etc.

The most suitable treatment for cat allergies is ultrasound therapy . Ultrasound inhalation allows you to achieve excellent results in the treatment of this disease. During this one procedure, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract is moistened and cleansed, and the respiratory organs are sanitized and disinfected from pathogenic allergens present in them. In addition, ultrasound inhalations make it possible to restore cleared airways by eliminating swelling, healing wounds and erosions. All this gives the patient the right, after undergoing one course of treatment, to breathe calmly, eliminating all previously existing allergic reactions and symptoms.

Techniques such as herbal medicine, apitherapy and lipid therapy can stimulate and strengthen the immune system, as well as give the body strength to fight diseases in the future, be it viral, bacterial, colds or allergens entering the body. Treat your allergies to cats in our ENT-Asthma clinic and be healthy!

Video reviews about allergy treatment at the ENT-Asthma clinic

Anna Grigorievna, allergy treatment Olga, 26 years old, allergy treatment

Videos and publications about allergies

Special interview about allergies in children.

On August 24, 2011, in a live broadcast of the TDK TV channel “Our Children,” the chief physician of the ENT-Asthma clinic, Doctor of Medical Sciences Alexander Sergeevich Puryasev answered questions from viewers about allergies in children. Questions were raised about the causes of allergies, symptoms and types of allergies in children.

Food allergies, gastrointestinal manifestations

Part 1

Food allergy is characterized by polymorphism of clinical manifestations, affecting various organs and systems [1]. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the “shock” organ that is primarily involved in the pathological process due to daily contact with many foreign substances that have antigenic and toxic properties. In this case, allergic inflammation can develop in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, starting from the oral cavity and ending with the large intestine. Gastrointestinal allergies are caused by the development of allergic inflammation directly in the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. The leading immunological mechanism of gastrointestinal food allergy is IgE-mediated reactions. In case of allergic damage to the gastrointestinal tract, non-IgE-mediated reactions caused by IgG antibodies or delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions may also occur [2].

Epidemiology of food allergies

Information about the prevalence of food allergies, including gastrointestinal allergies, is very contradictory. According to epidemiological studies, the prevalence of true food allergy in developed countries in children of the first year of life is 6–8%, in adolescents 2–4%, in adults 1.5% [3]. Among 4000 people examined, the frequency of allergic reactions to food was 34.9% of cases, but true food allergy was identified in only 3.8% of them [4, 5].

Age-related characteristics of food allergies to various foods were determined (Table 1). The onset of food allergies to cow's milk, chicken eggs, and cereals often occurs in the first year of a child's life; for fish - for 2–3 years; vegetables, fruits, legumes - in the third year; after three years, cross-reactions between food products and pollen allergens may develop [5].

Etiology of food allergies (food allergens)

Many foods are responsible for the development or aggravation of food allergies. Etiologically significant food allergens are proteins (simple) or complex (glycoproteins) that can cause specific activation of Th2 helper cells and the production of IgE antibodies in genetically predisposed individuals and/or penetrate the gastrointestinal tract barrier and come into contact with immune cells during internal environment of the body. A number of food products (cow's milk, peanuts, eggs) contain several antigenic determinants (epitopes) that ensure their allergenicity, but not all of them are capable of inducing the production of specific IgE antibodies [6]. Most often, allergic reactions are caused by glycoproteins with a molecular weight of 10,000 to 70,000 daltons. They are highly soluble in water, usually heat stable, and resistant to acids and proteolytic enzymes. On the other hand, some foods, such as cod, have one dominant allergenic protein.

Thus, the allergenicity of a food protein is determined by a complex set of factors, including the presence of specific allergenic determinants in it, a sufficient degree of aggregation (polyvalency) of the antigen and its ability in this form to penetrate the gastrointestinal barrier. It is important to note that the development of hypoallergenic specialized products depends on knowledge of the structure of specific allergenic determinants of food protein [7].

Food components such as fats, carbohydrates, mineral salts and trace elements are not allergens and do not cause allergic reactions. Food intolerance to carbohydrates and fats is usually associated with a deficiency of digestive enzymes.

One of the first food products that causes food allergies in children of the first year of life is cow's milk. Most often this is due to the transfer of the child to artificial feeding with formulas based on cow's milk. The antigenic composition of cow's milk is determined by whey proteins and casein (Table 2). Among all cow's milk proteins, the maximum allergenicity is observed in beta-lactoglobulin. This protein contains epitopes that are recognized by both IgE and IgG antibodies.

Allergies to chicken egg whites make up a large proportion of all types of food allergies. The antigenic composition of a chicken egg is very complex. Egg allergens are ovomucoid, ovalbumin, conalbumin and lysozyme (Table 3).

The greatest activity of ovomucoid is due to the ability to retain its antigenic properties in the intestine for a long time, inhibiting the activity of trypsin. The allergenic properties of the yolk are less pronounced than the white. Often, egg white intolerance is combined with intolerance to chicken meat and broth. You should remember about the possibility of developing allergic reactions when vaccinated with vaccines containing admixtures of chicken embryo tissue or various parts of the fertilized egg (for example, serum against tick-borne encephalitis, yellow fever, etc.).

The most common and strong allergens include fish proteins. Fish antigens are distinguished by the fact that they are not destroyed during cooking. Among fish antigens, the most important allergen is parvalbumin, a heat-stable protein designated M-antigen. If you are allergic to the M-antigen, the reaction occurs not only when eating fish, but also when inhaling the vapors released during its preparation. It has been established that the degree of sensitization to fish does not decrease with age and persists in adults. Cross-reactions to caviar, shrimp, crayfish, lobster, oysters and other shellfish are possible [9–10].

Among food allergens, cereal proteins are important. In children, the most common allergy is to wheat, less often to barley, rye, and oats. Cereal intolerance can manifest itself both in the form of food allergies and gluten enteropathy (celiac disease), which often causes difficulties in diagnosis and treatment.

The antigenic composition of cereal proteins is presented in Table. 4.

Of the wheat flour proteins, alpha-, beta-, gamma-, omega-gliadin, glutenins, and prolamins have the most antigenic properties.

Peanuts are one of the most common allergens in children and adults with food allergies. In the US, the prevalence of peanut allergy among children has doubled over the past 5 years, reaching 1–2% in the US and 1% in the UK. The main peanut allergens have been identified: Peanut 1, Ara h1, Ara h2, Ara h3, minor peanut allergen [8]. When dried or fried at temperatures above 180 degrees, the allergenic properties of peanut proteins increase - fried peanuts are more allergenic than boiled ones. Notably, 49% of children with “asymptomatic” peanut protein sensitization were positive on a double-blind, placebo-controlled exercise test.

Cross allergy

Cross-reaction is due to the similarity of antigenic determinants in related groups of food products, food and pollen allergens, food products and herbal medicines. Most of these allergens are likely to consist of conformational epitopes and are therefore very unstable to temperature, enzymatic degradation and, as a result, difficult to isolate. However, in the last 5 years, complementary DNA (cDNA) has been isolated for many of these allergens and recombinant proteins have been obtained, which allows us to hope to obtain better diagnostic material in the near future. Patients are often sensitized to plant pollen, and subsequently, when consuming raw vegetables and fruits, they develop nasopharyngeal manifestations of allergies (the so-called pollen-food allergy, or perioral allergy syndrome) [10]. Allergens of animal origin are less numerous and do not cause cross-reactions as often. Significant cross-reactivity is typical for crustaceans; many children with an allergy to cow's milk proteins also react to goat's milk; cross-reactivity has been shown for egg proteins, peanuts and soybeans.

Cross food intolerance

Food products and allergens that cause cross-reactions are presented in Table. 5.

Products containing biologically active substances (histamine, tyramine)

Products such as cheese, wine, spinach, tomatoes, sauerkraut, dried ham, beef sausages, pork liver; canned products: tuna, anchovy fillet, herring fillet, smoked herring caviar; cheeses (Roquefort, Camembert, Brie, Gruyre, Cheddar, processed); Brewer's yeast, pickled herring, and avocado can also cause allergic reactions.

Clinical manifestations of allergic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract

Allergic lesions of the gastrointestinal tract do not differ in specific symptoms from non-allergic diseases of the digestive system. They are characterized by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain (colic), diarrhea or constipation. In this regard, the diagnosis of gastrointestinal manifestations of allergies is very difficult. To diagnose it, it is necessary to resort to various additional research methods in order to prove or refute allergic genesis.

Suspicion of an allergic nature of damage to the gastrointestinal tract arises, as a rule, in the following cases:

• the appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms within several hours (from 2 to 4 hours) after consuming allergenic foods;
• absence of symptoms when following an elimination diet and their resumption after provocation;
• there is a hereditary predisposition to allergic diseases;
• there are concomitant allergic diseases (atopic dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma);
• there is a positive effect from taking antihistamines;
• eosinophilia;
• the presence of eosinophils in the contents of gastric juice or feces.

If the patient’s complaints are related to the intake of certain food allergens or medications, then the diagnosis is greatly facilitated. It is more difficult to establish a connection between gastrointestinal symptoms and the consumption of everyday foods. Usually, only a more carefully collected anamnesis, long-term observation, and examination of the patient using modern methods of allergological and instrumental diagnostics make it possible to establish the exact genesis of the above symptoms.

Clinical manifestations of gastrointestinal allergies depending on age

Gastrointestinal symptoms are very common in children with food allergies (40–50%), debuting in early childhood. The most common and significant allergens in the development of gastroenterological symptoms are proteins from cow's milk, wheat, eggs, and soy.

The first gastrointestinal symptoms of food allergies are colic, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, poor weight gain, excitability, sleep disturbances, refusal to eat, resistant to traditional methods of therapy. Gastroesophageal reflux remains unrecognized in children of the first year of life. There is a relationship between the occurrence of these symptoms and the intake of certain types of foods. Often gastrointestinal manifestations of food allergies are combined with other atopic diseases, primarily atopic dermatitis, urticaria or angioedema.

We observed 33 children aged from 1.5 to 8 months with symptoms such as regurgitation and vomiting (n = 18), colic (n = 24), bloating and abdominal pain (n = 17), decreased appetite and refusal to eat associated with colic (n = 13), diarrhea or constipation (almost all children). Among them, 13 children were mixed and 20 were bottle-fed. Adapted formulas based on whole cow's milk protein (Nutrilon, Nutrilon Comfort, Nestozhen, Frisolak, Hipp, Nutrilak, Mikamilk, Malyutka) and/or fermented milk mixtures (Agusha fermented milk, NAN fermented milk, Nutrilon fermented milk) were used in children's nutrition. The described symptoms occurred from several minutes to several hours after taking formula and in most children were persistent. In 7 (21.2%) children, changes in the frequency and nature of stools, mixed with mucus and blood, were noted. Among the observed children, there were 18 boys and 15 girls. Body weight at birth (g) was 3397.7 ± 288.5, body length at birth (cm) 53.3 ± 2.2. A burdened allergic history on the part of one parent was observed in 14 (42.4%) children, and in both parents in 17 (51.5%). The level of total IgE in the blood serum of the observed children ranged from 25.7 IU/ml to 225 IU/ml (112.5 ± 11.3 IU/ml). Determination of specific IgE antibodies to cow's milk protein and its fractions: beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin and casein revealed high sensitivity to cow's milk protein in 90.9% of children, to the casein fraction in 75.7% of children, to beta-lactoglobulin in 87.8%, alpha-lactalbumin in 36.4% of children.

This observation showed that in children with a burdened allergic history, the onset of gastrointestinal food allergy was associated with the introduction of infant formula. Before a special allergological examination, many of these children continued to receive inadequate therapy, which significantly affected their somatic and nutritional status. It should be noted that the differential diagnosis of gastrointestinal manifestations of allergies must be carried out with anatomical abnormalities, metabolic, infectious and inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, lactase and disaccharidase deficiency. One of the diagnostic signs of food allergy can be considered the relief of symptoms against the background of an elimination diet and taking antihistamines.

It must be remembered that disruption of the intestinal microflora can accompany gastrointestinal food allergies. In such cases, drugs that correct the intestinal microflora should not be prescribed without eliminating the food allergen and correcting the diet.

The likelihood of diagnosing gastrointestinal manifestations of food allergy will increase significantly when performing esophagogastroduodenoscopy and biopsy of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Early diagnosis of gastrointestinal food allergies, elimination of causally significant allergens from the diet and selection of specialized dietary (medicinal) products that have a balanced composition for the full growth and development of the child’s body are the most important areas of work for a practicing doctor.

Read the end of the article in the next issue.

V. A. Revyakina, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor

Federal State Budgetary Institution Research Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow

Contact information about the author for correspondence

Cost of treatment

* — When paying for the full course of treatment procedures, the cost of a doctor’s appointment is included in the amount of treatment. The course of treatment is prescribed by a doctor. The course duration is 7-12 sessions depending on the diagnosis.