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Cat Dander That Causes Anaphylactic Shock

The dander in a cat's coat--dry flakes of shed skin--is to blame for causing serious allergic response in many people. However, in a minority of allergy sufferers, cat dander allergies cause a potentially fatal response called "anaphylactic shock." It's important to understand what cat dander is and how to avoid a cat dander anaphylactic shock.

  1. What is Cat Dander?

    • Cat dander is the equivalent of human dandruff; it comprises small particles of shed skin occurring naturally in all cats and settling deep in the cat's coat, as well as on its surface. All cats have dander, but cats with dense coats or that are less well-groomed will have more dander. Dander is not always visible so it's not possible to bathe or brush cats to remove all dander, and cats produce more dander on a daily basis.

    Why Dander Causes Allergy

    • Cat dander in itself is not the trigger; rather a usually harmless protein in the dander to which allergy sufferers are highly sensitive causes the problem. This protein is also present in a cat's saliva and urine. Even bald cats can cause allergic response and anaphylactic shock; they too wash themselves, distribute saliva on their coats and shed skin--in the form of dander. Dander particles, often being so small, float on the air and people breathe them in; they settle in the respiratory tract and lungs, causing inflammation and allergic response.

    Anaphylactic Shock

    • After exposure to shed cat dander, a severe allergic response causes sudden release of chemicals and histamines from its blood cells. These chemicals cause rapid blood vessel swelling. Fluid leaks from the blood vessels into surrounding tissues, starving organs of vital oxygen and blood flow; the body's vital functions shut down. The sufferer can become cold and clammy, faint, nauseous, drowsy, confused, and may develop a raised, blotchy rash ("hives"), and swelling of the tongue and lips. Some people who suffer allergy collapse and the heart can stop beating; anaphylactic shock can kill if cat dander response is severe enough.

    Treatment

    • A person who's suffered an anaphylactic shock in response to cat dander will be asked to carry the adrenalin "epinephrine" in an Epi-Pen device. This easy-to-use injection kit delivers a single pre-dosed shot for self-administration. The sufferer should use it whenever anaphylactic shock from cat dander is a possibility--whenever he's had exposure to a cat--but he may still need other treatments, such as intra-venous fluids or anti-histamines.

    Tips

    • Alongside carrying an Epi-Pen, sufferers can obtain a Medic Alert bracelet to give information about their cat dander allergy. Avoiding contact with cats and their dander is common sense, as well as keeping away from households and people with cats. Even casual contact with cat-owners--or people with cat dander on their clothing--causes problems. Suffers should consider immunotherapy and exposure treatment, as they will always encounter cat dander, no matter how hard they try to avoid it. It's helpful for sufferers' friends and family to learn about dander-induced anaphylactic shock in case it recurs.

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