Almost every house has pets, most often cats. What to do if a newborn baby after a contact with an animal has a rash, redness of the skin and other symptoms. How is an allergy to cats in infants? The article will discuss the symptoms, signs of the disease and methods of treating this condition.
How the baby's immune system reacts
How is an allergy to cats in infants? The emerging condition is manifested by a number of symptoms. An allergic reaction is a specific response of a child's immunity to an allergen. In this case, cat hair acts as an irritant. The body perceives it as a danger, and the baby's immune system begins to defend itself.
How is allergy in cats infants? There is nasal congestion, skin rashes and coughing.
Allergy does not occur on the coat itself, but on the protein, which is present in the saliva and urine of the animal, and also stands out on the skin in the form of dandruff. The structure of this substance is perceived by the body as a harmful foreign body. Allergies in infants are manifested not only in direct contact with the animal. But even if the child is put on the chair where the cat was sleeping, the baby’s immune system will also quickly respond to the coat.
Allergies are not particularly dangerous, but they can cause complications that seriously worsen the condition, such as swelling of the larynx or suffocation.
A feature of allergies is its seasonality. Acutely, it manifests itself in the spring. Parents of the baby need to be especially attentive to his health at this time.
Before getting rid of the animal, it is necessary to establish the exact cause of the allergy. Indeed, pollen, mold and dust that a cat brings from the street can act as irritants.
Causes of Allergies
The main factors include a specific protein in the hair, dandruff and biological fluids of cats.
Another cause may be an allergy to animal feed. In this case, the food components of the cat cause a negative reaction of the baby's body.
Another reason consider parasites living inside or outside the cat. They provoke the appearance of helminths in an infant. A child can become infected by direct contact with the animal, through its habitat or objects, clothes or hands of an adult or child after they have touched it.
An allergy to the hair of cats in infants is most often manifested, since they have not yet formed the correct functioning of the immune system. The body perceives all external factors that enter inside as dangerous, therefore it begins to show its protective functions.
There is a group of children who are most prone to allergies. It includes:
- Premature babies.
- Breasts who have a hereditary predisposition to allergies.
- Children who have been treated with antibiotics.
- Newborns suffering from chronic diseases and congenital pathology.
Diseases that increase the risk of a negative reaction of the body include atopic dermatitis, hay fever and individual intolerance to certain products.
Sometimes the occurrence of allergies is affected by the environmental situation in which the woman and the child live. Also, the risk of a negative reaction increases with improper nutrition of the mother during lactation.
Is there an allergy to hypoallergenic cats
These breeds of animals include sphinxes, as well as rex, javanese, oriental and balines. It is believed that they secrete the least specific protein. But this does not mean that they cannot cause an allergic reaction.
Least of all are cats and kittens. Therefore, when a small animal appears in a house, negative reactions in a child do not immediately occur. There are ways to reduce allergies to cats:
- More often ventilate the apartment and carry out wet cleaning at least 2 times a week.
- After each contact with animals, be sure to wash your hands.
- It is necessary to constantly process bowls, toys and other cat items.
- The animal must be washed 2 times a week with hypoallergenic agents.
Thus, it is possible to reduce the manifestation of an allergic reaction, but it cannot be completely eliminated.
Symptoms of the disease
Signs of pathology in infants are manifested in the same way as in adults. They can disguise themselves as other diseases, so it is important for parents to find them and seek help from specialists.
Symptoms of an allergy to cats in infants:
- Rhinitis. Manifested by nasal congestion.
- Frequent sneezing.
- Rashes, which appear as red dots and spots.
- Redness and itching in the eyes.
- Drowsiness, lethargy and moodiness of the baby.
- The occurrence of shortness of breath and shallow breathing.
- Swelling in the eye area.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Isolation of mucus from the nose.
Signs of the disease are largely similar to bronchitis, acute respiratory viral infections and other diseases. Self-medication is strictly prohibited, so as not to cause serious consequences.
How is an allergy to cats in infants? The immune system response develops in 4 stages:
- Immune. Occurs at the time the stimulus enters the body.
- Pathochemical. Appears from the moment of secondary penetration. Immunity protects the body by secreting eosinophils.
- Pathophysiological. Cells of the mucous membrane and skin do not function properly for a long time, causing swelling and mucus secretion.
- Clinical. At this stage, acute symptoms appear. In infants, they are especially noticeable.
Outwardly, the disease can manifest itself only at the 4th stage. The main thing is not to start the pathology.
Diagnostics
If there are symptoms of an allergy to a cat in an infant (see photo in the article), its contact with an animal should be reduced or limited. The cat can be given to friends or relatives for a while.
You should not blame the pet immediately for the appearance of pathology, they initially establish the exact cause of the allergy. This can only be done by a specialist.
Parents of the newborn are initially required to consult a pediatrician who will conduct an initial examination and send them for an allergist consultation.
The specialist suggests donating blood from a vein, and they also take it from their parents to determine if the allergy is hereditary.
After establishing an accurate diagnosis, the necessary therapy is prescribed.
When to Get Rid of a Pet
If the cat is the culprit in the occurrence of an allergic reaction, and the symptoms are acute, then it must be given at least temporarily. After all, pathology has many complications, such as asthma and suffocation, which parents would not want to see in their children.
If you are allergic to the hair of cats in infants, it is necessary to remove the irritant, in this case a pet.
If after several weeks the symptoms of the disease reappear, then the animal is given back in this case forever.
There is another opinion that the cat itself can also get rid of allergies. Often during the game, she bites and scratches, thereby launching an allergen under the skin. At this point, the baby’s immune system produces antibodies that can cure this condition.
Drug treatment
With symptoms of an allergy to cats in infants, he urgently needs help. Newborns are prescribed the following:
- antihistamines;
- eye drops;
- nasal sprays;
- ointments of local action.
All drugs are prescribed by a specialist taking into account the age of the child, so they can not harm him. Treatment is carried out at home, in a hospital only with a complicated course of the disease. The course lasts the required number of days, even if obvious improvements are noticeable during the treatment process.
It is impossible to completely cure an allergy to cats, but therapy can reduce the symptoms of the disease and avoid complications.
Folk remedies
How is an allergy to cats in infants? If a rash and other symptoms of the disease occur, folk remedies can be used. It is allowed to use them only after consultation with a specialist.
As a relief of the condition of the baby, decoctions and infusions of herbs and plants are used. This may be chamomile, St. John's wort, celandine and others. Breasts are sometimes prescribed salt baths to relieve negative symptoms. The use of traditional medicine does not harm the patient’s body, but they are usually used in combination with medical treatment.
Possible complications
When an infant is allergic to cats, a small organism reacts sharply. This is the main danger of the condition. Allergic reactions that occur when in contact with cats can lead to the following consequences:
- Quincke's edema;
- anaphylactic shock;
- bronchial asthma;
- skin diseases.
Allergies significantly weaken the immune system. As a result, the baby becomes susceptible to various infections and viruses.
Prevention
Due to the fact that the presence of cats in the house often provokes the appearance of allergic reactions in newborns, experts do not advise parents to keep them in the house before the baby is 3 years old.
If a pet has already lived in the apartment, then with the advent of the baby, pediatricians advise to do the following:
- Wet daily.
- Ventilate the room often. It is recommended to use an air purifier and an ionizer.
- Limit contact between baby and cat. Do not let the pet into the room of the newborn and protect from it toys and children's things.
- Remove curtains and carpets from the child’s room, because the cat’s hair settles on them.
- All family members monitor the hygiene of their hands.
- Strengthen the immune system of infants.
All of these recommendations will significantly reduce the symptoms of an infant's allergic reaction to cats. If the signs of pathology appear in the child constantly after contact with the pet, then to prevent this, you should look for a new home for the pet.