Pet Peeves
Jordan took out the trash for two months and kept his room clean to show he was responsible enough to have a dog. Now that his puppy, Rex, is a part of the family, so are regular visits to the pediatrician for chronic sinusitis.
Jordan’s parents do not want to separate their son from his new best friend, but they worry about Jordan’s quality of life.
“Reducing exposure to decrease allergy symptoms does not always have to mean getting rid of the pet,” says Matthew Dougherty, MD, pediatrician with Esse Health and on staff at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Conservative measures to improve allergy symptoms include limiting dander exposure by cleaning the home regularly with a high-efficiency particulate air [HEPA]-filter vacuum, keeping the pet out of the bedrooms, reducing the amount of upholstered surfaces in the house and wiping down surfaces often. If you are allergic and will be visiting someone who owns a pet, talk with an allergist about possible medications you can take to control symptoms.”
Signs of Irritation
People with allergies have immune systems that are sensitive to particular substances they may come in contact with every day. Common allergy triggers include dust, mold, grass, pollen and dander—or skin shed by pets.
Up to 30 percent of people who have allergies are allergic to dogs or cats. While pet hair itself is not an allergen, it can harbor dust, pollen, saliva and dander that can cause allergic reactions, which may include:
- congestion
- coughing
- itchy, watery eyes
- red welts on the skin from direct contact
- runny nose
- wheezing
- worsening eczema
Common Sense and Sensitivity
A new pet should be included in a patient’s medical history to help allergists diagnose particular sensitivities. Parents may learn their children are allergic to more than the new pet. Once allergy triggers are identified, eliminating or limiting exposure to all allergens can help relieve symptoms.
In some children, allergies may be controlled with over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines. Others might benefit from immunotherapy, a safe treatment used to bolster their bodies’ ability to tolerate allergens.
“Children are not born allergic but develop allergies due to exposure,” says Leonard Bacharier, MD, pediatric allergist on staff at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Our job is to help parents identify whether or not their children have pet allergies and, if so, educate them about options for treatment. Informed parents can help their children minimize exposure to allergy triggers at home or in other environments their children encounter.”
If you are concerned about your child’s allergy symptoms, call 314.454.KIDS (5437) or
toll-free 800.678.KIDS for more information and a referral to a pediatrician or allergist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
