Allergic Rhinitis: Cockroaches and Pet Allergies
Allergies can also be caused the little critters scurrying around your house. Whether a cat or cockroach, they could be contributing to your allergic reactions.Cockroaches
Dust mites and their droppings may be horrible to think about, but at least you can't see them. Cockroaches, on the other hand, are visible. Although they scuttle away when the kitchen light comes on, they leave behind their droppings in the form of little pellets. The feces contain a digestive enzyme thought to be an allergen. If that's not enough, dead roach body parts, themselves known allergens, adhere to dust particles. These become airborne and cause an allergic reaction when they enter the nose, eyes, and lungs. Extermination can actually increase the problem because there will be more body parts in the dust. For roach control, it's best to use traps, such as the Roach Motel.
Pet allergies
While cats, dogs, and other pets are much more cute and cuddly than dust mites and cockroaches, they also produce allergens, most notably those found in their dander (flaky, dead skin cells) and saliva. Cats, with their predilection for primping, spread the allergen from their saliva to their fur.
Once dried, it flakes off and becomes airborne. Cat allergen particles are small and can stay airborne for several hours. Not only do they love air travel, but these allergens will happily travel overland.
Their sticky nature helps them cling to clothing, transporting them to homes and offices where a cat has never set down a paw. The urine of female cats and rodents is also allergenic. Allergies to dogs are less common and typically less intense than those to cats, but dog saliva and dander contain allergens, too. Although dogs don't groom as readily as cats, many are happy to lick their human companions, often provoking a reaction.
Birds, gerbils, mice, guinea pigs, rats, rabbits, and horses can all cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. However, amphibians and reptiles aren't allergenic.
And fish seem to be relatively free of allergens, as they don't shed in our living room. However, be wary of mold spores growing around the fish tank.
Many airborne substances can trigger allergic rhinitis, including mold spores, dust-mite droppings, cockroach leavings, and animal dander. Now that you have a solid understanding of this allergy type, it's time to look at a few other types of allergies. In the next section we will review allergic asthma.
Fact: Dander is what causes allergies in some individuals, not pet hair. Since all dogs have dander, there are no allergy-free breeds. There is, however, a lot of breed-to-breed difference in dog allergen, so you may tolerate one breed better than another. In cats, the most common allergen accounts for 90 percent of the allergies, so if you're allergic to one cat, you're most likely allergic to all. Myth: Continuous exposure to pets will decrease allergies. Fact: Continuous exposure to pets will not decrease allergies. The best way to relieve symptoms is to remove the pet from the home. If removing the pet is not an option, pet owners should keep the pet out of the bedroom, bathe the pet weekly to reduce the amount of allergens in the air, have a non-allergic family member brush the pet outside, and clean the animal's cage or litter box frequently. Use a HEPA filter in the bedroom and remove carpets. |
Learn more about what ails you. Here are some common symptoms.
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