y some estimates is subject to varying degrees, every fourth person in the world. Just some of its overlooked. Without attaching special significance to the fact that in the presence of cats they start a little itchy nose, but others at the meeting with the animal just going to die, and it's a real tragedy. A more or less susceptible to serious allergies to cats is about 15% of all people.
The culprit of allergies - the so-called Felis domesticus allergen 1 or Pel d 1. It was discovered in the saliva of cats, and on her skin and has a strong allergenic properties, and the size is one tenth of the particle. Generator house dust.
Everyone knows that cats spend a lot of time licking. In this case, they leave a large number of allergenic saliva on its cover, and then the saliva is spread everywhere. In addition, when a cat licking dissipate in the ambient air of the clouds of tiny droplets of saliva. They are literally sprays allergies! Contrary to popular belief, the very hair cats is not a source of allergies! Even if you shave a cat shaved or be got in the house hairless animal. For example, the sphinx. It will not solve the problem. The trouble is that the allergen Pel d 1 is also located on the skin the animal and only with the skin carries over to his coat. Besides him, the cats produce allergens, originating from their urine and skin. Very light, they are constantly hovering in the air, easily stick to the porous surface: the carpet, upholstery. Draperies. Bed rest linen, walls and ceiling. Allergenic properties of hair, dandruff. Saliva and urine, animals do not depend on the breed or length of wool.
For many people, the question arises: why do people react to one animal, but it takes the presence of another of the same species? Here, again, fits the example of cat allergen. As stated above. This is not an allergen, a mixture of several allergens. In addition, the mixture stand certain major allergens, which reacts most people with allergies to cats, and so-called minor allergenic fraction, the sensitivity to which different people can be different. Males produce significantly more allergens than females.
Pel d 1 allergen can remain in the house for several months thereafter. How to remove the pet from there. Even if the animal is causing the allergy is removed from the home, allergy attacks can still be repeated later because of the fact that the allergens are still contains the details of the furniture, bedspreads, curtains, carpets, etc. the only adequate remedy in this case is to conduct a thorough re-cleanups!
At the same time, the publications on this subject is found, it would seem, quite the opposite conclusion, that recent studies suggest a cat or dog. Living in a family where there is a child, prevents the development of asthma in children in the future. According to studies, children who are at an early age in contact with pets in the future rarely get sick from asthma. Also, they rarely are allergic to animals, house dust and pollen. Favorable contact young children not only with dogs and cats, and farm animals.
ALLERGY.
What you need to know lovers of cats
What is an allergy and allergic reaction
Perhaps the allergy - the most widespread chronic disease in the world. Every fourth person suffers from chronic allergies. Allergies - is either hypersensitive or wrong reaction to a substance that is safe for most people. Allergy - a serious problem, spreading rapidly in the developed world. Substances that cause allergies are called allergens or antigens. The reaction of the organism in which the immune system tries to protect itself from the normally harmless substances, called an allergic reaction.
The basic biological mechanism of any allergic reaction is almost identical. Allergens can enter the body in four different ways: through the nose, throat, and lungs (volatile substances) through the mouth and digestive system (food, liquids, medicines), through agents and chemicals in contact with our skin (cosmetics, detergents ) by subcutaneous (vaccines, drugs, animal bites or stings of insects).
Repeated attacks allergens cause the body to produce antibodies that attach to the surface of specific blood cells. These cells secrete substances that cause blood vessels and air passages in the lungs to expand. With this type of immune response cells, are trying to destroy a substance that "intrudes" into the body without actually inflicting any real harm. At the point of attack "invaders" there is inflammation. This reaction is very effective when the invading substance does require neutralization, but very dangerous when going to the allergen, a substance harmless to neallergikov.
Types of allergens
Dust mites: in fact, cause allergic droppings of millions of tiny creatures that live in our homes and can cause problems with allergies and asthma. Mites thrive especially in bedrooms and upholstered furniture, since love warm, humid conditions and live on dead bits of skin that we lose every day.
Pollen home or outdoor plants, their spores in the atmosphere may also cause asthma attacks. From spring to autumn, grass, trees and weeds produce a lot of pollen. This allergy is seasonal and ends after the flowering season. Geographic location plays an important role in allergy to pollen, as well as other environmental factors, even such as global warming.
Nutrition: food allergy is less common than it seems. However, it can cause a dangerous reaction. In particular, peanuts, eggs, milk and fish often cause problems with allergies. Pets: All warm-blooded creatures, including hamsters, birds, ferrets and cats, spreading allergens that may be more likely to cause asthma and rhinitis symptoms.
Other: A very small percentage of people have increased sensitivity to certain bees and wasps zhalam. However, the reaction of such people they can be so strong that sometimes leads to death. Other possible allergens - drugs, chemicals, rubber, metal, jewelry, plants, and even sunlight.
Who suffer from allergies and why
The main factor of allergy - a genetic inheritance and environment. If you have any close relatives who suffer from allergies of any type, then there is an increased likelihood that you have inherited an increased response to contact with the allergen.
The only way for the manifestation of an allergy to a particular substance is human contact with this substance. It is assumed that the first months of life may be particularly important in this respect, as well as a place where you grow. For example, sometimes given the fact that people born in the United States is more likely an allergic reaction to peanuts, because the peanut butter - a common food in this country, while people born in Sweden, the more likely an allergic reaction to salmon , which is eaten there in large numbers. In Russia unlikely allergic reaction to both of these products. There is also evidence that genetically susceptible people born in the flowering season, are more likely to suffer from hay fever. For infants is particularly important breastfeeding because breast milk protects against the development of allergies.
Recognizes the distinction between cause allergies and cause allergic reactions. And yet, nobody knows exactly why, in each case, the development of various forms of allergies.
What is allergic to pets
Sensitivity to animals - is one of the most common allergies. Frequent severe allergic reactions to cats, but any furry animal or bird also can cause symptoms such as redness, itching, skin and nose, watery eyes, laying the nose, sneezing, difficulty breathing, chronic sore throat, cough, wheeze.
It is assumed that the major allergen, which responds to most people with allergies to house cats - a substance Fel d 1 (reduction of Felis domesticus, house cat), produced by sebaceous glands in the skin and in the saliva of cats. Dander (dead skin cells) has been losing animals, tiny particles which clings to furniture, draperies and wall coverings and cause problems with allergies. Tiny airborne particles of Fel d 1 - the same size as the droplets that treat bronchitis, bronchial penetrate the membrane. It is not surprising that allergies to cats can lead to asthma. Fel d 1 can persist for months or even years after the cat was removed from the home. Interestingly, the cat spread significantly fewer allergens than males, and the younger the kitten, the less of him allergens. Studies have shown that, regardless of breed or sex cats have a much larger number of people allergic to cats dark color or pattern than the lighter colored cats. Nadu also bear in mind that neutered cats are less allergens than full.
How to live with allergies
However, we know that pets are beneficial to the human condition. Studies suggest that owners of cats live longer than people who do not have them. Perhaps because cats relieve pent-day stress. When discussing allergies to animals is important to realize that, like other types of allergies, she has a complex character that is dependent on the simultaneous presence of different allergens, which have different thresholds of allergens that trigger allergic reactions. These thresholds may depend on the ratio of different types of allergens. Each person may have a different degree of sensitivity to different allergens. Dust, soil, mold, pollen, paint, perfumes, cosmetics, and many other substances can cause allergic reactions, and show whether a person has symptoms of allergies depends on how many and what allergens are in the environment at the moment. Remember that this number also changes constantly, depending on the totality of the conditions that characterize the environment - temperature, humidity, dust.
So it makes sense to try to eliminate the allergens to which your response is maximal. Each allergy is the level of tolerance, which is in some way unique, and an allergic reaction begins, only if this level is exceeded. While the level of allergens is below the threshold of allergy, you will not have an allergic reaction. Sometimes, if you have a cat or a castrated male cat, it can reduce the level of allergens to a tolerable level. Many people with high allergic reaction to cats, after some time, are immune to their own cat. However, they all left the reaction of varying intensity on the other cats.
Some simple steps can reduce the risk of an allergic reaction: because cats are spreading allergens, airborne allergens accumulate in the apartment. Need to reduce their number - remove carpets, especially in the bedrooms, and rooms where you spend a lot of time ... learn to love hard wood floors! Close your mattresses and pillows airtight cover. If resources permit, replace upholstered furniture in leather. Make vacuuming with a high purification filters. Now on sale there were air purifiers, ionizers, ozone generator, and greatly reduce the number of allergens in the air, and eliminate the smell of cats, the smoke from the kitchen.
There are medications, such as aerosols, which reduce allergic inflammation in the nose and helps to reduce the bronchial inflammation, coughing, wheezing and chest tightness.
Allergy treatment
Significant improvement is observed in approximately 80% of people who use immunotherapy. The biggest drawback of the treatment injections - their disadvantage, as injections are done twice a week for six months and then once every three - four weeks for three - five years. And, unfortunately, because of the nature of therapy, frequent contraindications to treatment, although severe complications are very rare. This is due to the fact that the serum is introduced from an extract of the substance to which you have an allergic reaction. Although immunotherapy - not a cure for allergies, it is considered more effective than medication reaction, because fighting the cause of allergies, not just the symptoms. Constantly developing more new, more accurate and safer forms of immunotherapy.
Other tips for people with allergies.
Wash your cat. Studies show that washing your cat reduces allergic stimuli (Fel d 1). The level of allergens after some time recovering, so the cat should be washed periodically. Positive results are achieved if the cat does not wash at least once in two weeks, which might initially she did not like it. In cats, washed with soap and number of allergic proteins decreased from 44 to 79 percent.
Synthetic Epitope Vaccine: Researchers tested the epitope vaccine, developed from the cat allergen Fel d 1. The vaccine consisted of two 27 amino acid peptide isolated from Fel d 1. The majority of the studied patients (71%) who received four times a week, 750 ug, showed improvement, and follow-up of participants showed that 75% of these positive changes persisted even after seven and a half months.
The study showed that molecular biologists managed to clone the major allergens, to identify T-cell epitopes, associated with the human immune response. These results are consistent with the understanding the mechanism of allergic reaction, and the role that T-cells in her play. The vaccine was administered subcutaneously in very small doses. The result was that even a single injection of long-term protection against a specific allergen, so it is hoped that if the project work will be resumed and the trial continued, it will be possible to improve the vaccine so that one or two injections a year will ensure a life without allergies. The vaccine represents a new approach to treating allergies. It would develop anti-allergic drugs for a variety of allergens. The action of the vaccine - reducing the length of T-cells, leading to suppression of the last stage of allergic inflammation and IgE antibody synthesis.
