Are pets bad for childhood allergies?

2 mins to read

When your child shows symptoms of pet-related allergy, the solution lies in more than shipping off the family’s moggie. By Stephanie Oley.

Kids

So your child is sneezing, wheezing and suffering whenever he or she goes near the family cat, dog, horse, rabbit, guinea pig or bird, among others.

What to make of the gamut of contradictory information out there when you’re seeking a failsafe solution?

According to the 2004-05 Australian Bureau of Statistics Health Survey, 19 per cent of children under the age of 15 suffer respiratory conditions, and allergens known to aggravate these symptoms include pollens, dust mites, exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke – and pets.

Most problems associated with these allergens can be dealt with simply by keeping a clean house.

But pet dander – or skin flakes – can take a while to dissipate. Pet dander is what sufferers are mainly allergic to, along with saliva, urine and other secretions.

Here, kitty

Simply removing the pet creates a new problem: the allergic child loses any resistance they have built up to pet allergens.

A 2008 US study that found that cats (a serious allergen) provoked more allergies in two- to five-year-old children who didn’t have one in the home, than children who lived with a cat.

“If there is regular allergen contact, your body can sometimes pass an allergy threshold and de-sensitize,” explains Dr Velencia Soutter, paediatrician at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s dedicated Allergy Unit.

“The problem is when people get rid of the animal, but occasionally socialize with pet-owners or in settings where there is a pet. This can trigger even worse attacks.”

“So the big picture is that pets are actually good for most children,” she explains. However, Dr Soutter stresses that each child must be diagnosed according to their individual symptoms, key irritants and most effective treatment.

Allergy attack – what actually happens?

In an allergic attack, the body’s IgE antibodies respond to an external irritant, resulting in the release of histamines and other inflammatory chemicals.

Symptoms that follow a pet-related allergy include:

Sneezing and runny or blocked nose
Watery, itchy eyes, nose and throat
Wheezing
Recurrent sinusitis

3 key things you can do now

Get a grip on your child’s allergies by taking the following three steps:

Gauge the symptoms correctly – Observe your child playing with animals away from home. If you think there is an allergy, and are considering buying a pet, arrange for a skin prick test or antibody test, advises Dr Soutter. “It’s possible the child is allergic to dust trapped in the animal’s hair, or even to feed such as birdseed, rather than the pet itself.”
Take precautions – If your child is prescribed any medications, aim to take these preventatively rather than treat an attack afterwards. “Take your antihistamines or prednisolone before visiting a pet-owner’s home,” says Dr Soutter.
Build resistance – Blackmores advisory naturopath Lesley Bailey says the key is to support a healthy immune function. Important nutrients include vitamin C, zinc and vitamin A. Omega-3 essential fatty acids can help dampen inflammation, and magnesium can help with stress and spasm. Find these nutrients in a high-protein diet that features plenty of unrefined foods and fresh fruit and vegetables. Medicinal herbs known to support immune and respiratory function for respiratory allergy symptoms include Andrographis, Albizia, garlic, horseradish, Bailey adds.

Did you know?

Provided your child’s allergy isn’t debilitating, it’s better to have regular contact with a pet than not. But try to keep Fido or Kitty out of bedrooms and off beds.

References available on request