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Ah-Choo! What'll Sufferers Do?

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By KRISTEN LEVINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 23, 2008

Updated:

If you're one of the 42 million Americans with pet allergies, your sneezes likely aren't just a springtime nuisance. They're year-round.

That's because 83 percent of you say you'll never get rid of your pet, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

"I will never get rid of my cats, and I even want to get a dog," Tona Bell of Tampa proclaims.

She takes decongestants or antihistamines when symptoms flare. Recently, she added acupuncture and herbs to combat her seasonal allergies.

"I've learned to deal with occasional sneezing and itchy eyes," she says. "My babies are worth it."

Often, when people acquire a new pet, they're not aware of an allergy in the family.

"The symptoms evolve very slowly," says Roberto Garcia-Ibenez, a pediatric allergy specialist in Tampa.

About 20 percent of people are predisposed to allergies and can do nothing to prevent them, he says.

Usually, by the time a family member begins to show allergy symptoms, the family and pet have bonded. It can be difficult to think about parting with this new best friend.

That's hard on the allergy sufferer. He can feel like he has a head cold half the time.

"Unfortunately, allergies never really go away," Garcia-Ibenez says. "We can alleviate the symptoms, and we can shift the response to the allergies, but curing is impossible."

People think pet hair is the culprit, but that's rarely the case, says physician Mark C. Glaum of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of South Florida.

"People who are allergic to pets are mainly reacting to proteins made by the skin of the animal. If you shave the fur off, the protein is still detected on the shaved skin," he says. "Depending on the animal, some of the protein is also found in fur, saliva and other excretions."

The protein dries on animals' skin and becomes airborne when they scratch or shake. It's sticky and can get stuck on clothing, walls, furniture or carpeting. When people predisposed to pet allergens come in contact with it, their immune system mistakenly identifies it as an invader.

Symptoms can include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, sinus infections, eczema, hives, watery eyes and even bronchial asthma.

"And if asthma develops," Garcia-Ibenez says, "it is a serious condition that has a mortality rate."

If people experience chest tightening and wheezing, they may have a form of asthma that can be life-threatening, Glaum warns. "This condition should be promptly evaluated by your physician."

The only way to completely resolve pet allergy symptoms is to remove the animal from the home. Even then, it can take a year for the allergens to drop.

Some people think the solution is to get a "hypoallergenic" breed.

No such thing, Glaum says. All cats and dogs have the major allergic proteins.

HOW TO COPE

Tips

•Don't share sleeping quarters with a pet.

•Create an allergy-free haven in the bedroom (that means keeping pets out of the room).

•Minimize wall-to-wall carpeting, a primary reservoir for pet dander.

•Vacuum frequently

•Clean hard surfaces with a damp cloth to remove sticky dander.

•Replace AC filters monthly with high-quality allergen filters.

•Bathe pets frequently to reduce dander.

•Wash pets' bedding and clean favorite napping spots regularly.

•Use a lint roller to pick up hair and dander.

Medications

•Antihistamines can help with nose and eye symptoms but may make you sleepy and impair driving ability.

•Prescription nasal sprays can be effective but must be used consistently.

•Over-the-counter nasal sprays may help with congestion but are potentially addictive.

Write to pet-lifestyle expert Kristen Levine at Fetching Communications, P.O. Box 222, Tarpon Springs FL 34688; e-mail kristen@ fetchingcommunications.com; or fax to (727) 934-6451.

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