Animal dander allergies
The label “allergy to animal fur” is actually incorrect, because the allergic reactions of the human organism are not directed against the fur itself, but against the protein particles found in the skin scales and in the secretions of the skin glands . Allergens are found, for example, in sebum , saliva , sweat , feces or urine of animals. These substances are completely harmless for non-allergic people. However , they can lead to conjunctivitis , allergic rhinitis or asthma in allergy sufferers . Some allergy sufferers develop itchy rashes upon direct contact with animals.
Animal fur on the trail
Pets are growing in popularity and their owners are in close contact with them, which is why the incidence of confirmed cases of animal fur allergy is also increasing . About one in three pet owners develop this type of allergy ; however, a large number of people who do not own a pet themselves are also affected. When problems such as conjunctivitis, runny nose or cough occur ( especially in the cold season, when there is generally an increased risk of catching a cold ) , few people think to associate these symptoms with an allergy to animal fur. People with this type of allergy do not even have to own any animals. An allergic reaction can occur in them after they come into contact with a strange animal, or even just with its owner. Cat hair is especially dangerous because it gets stuck everywhere and is difficult to remove. Cat owners tend to wear them on their clothes and spread them everywhere: at school, at work, on public transport, in hotels or in cinemas.
People with a severe allergy to animal dander can experience health problems even if they enter a room where an animal to which they are allergic has previously been, or even places where no animal has ever been directly present. For example, a child with a cat allergy should not sit next to a child who has a cat at school. Especially in these patients, it is difficult to recognize the source of the allergy – and usually no one even thinks that it could be an allergy to animal fur. Allergic reactions can also be caused by clothes or home accessories of animal origin, for example furs, hunting trophies, carpets made of animal hair, mattresses made of horse hair, sheep’s fleece, etc.
The most common are allergies to cats and dogs, then to rodents (especially rats, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters), less often to horses and cows. Allergies to birds kept in households (parrots, etc.) are more rare.
Allergy to cat hair
The cat allergen is mainly contained in the saliva and tear fluid of cats; both cling to the fine dust in the human dwelling, which subsequently causes allergic reactions. This fine dust floats extremely well, so the cat allergen remains in the air for several months after the cat has left the apartment. Some allergy sufferers are more sensitive to certain breeds of cats (such as Angoras) than to other breeds, but most react to all cat dander. Therefore, people with cat allergies are generally not advised to have a cat at home.
Allergy to dog fur
Dog dander allergens have a lower allergenic potential than cat allergens, and in addition, they don’t stay in the air in the room as long. Dog allergens are species specific, i.e. people with dog allergies will show allergic reactions when in contact with any dog. There are certainly differences between breeds, but the individual differences between individual dogs are even greater. Some dog breeds secrete a lot of these allergens, others less, so allergy sufferers may have the impression that they are only allergic to certain breeds. Nevertheless, it is generally not recommended to keep a dog if a person has been diagnosed with a dog allergy.
Allergies to bird feathers and bird droppings
In people with bird allergies, both bird feathers and bird droppings cause an allergic reaction. Mites can also be the cause. In such a case, a person usually also has an allergy to dust mites . Allergies to bird feed (e.g. millet or sunflower seeds) also occur quite often. Some people with an allergy to birds also have an allergy to eggs (the so-called bird-egg syndrome ), or allergy to chicken and turkey meat.
