Pet Allergies in Babies

Pet allergies in babies are caused by a response in the immune system to animal saliva, dander and skin flakes, urine and/or feces. When babies come in contact with pet allergens, their immune system releases histamine and over 40 other chemicals to battle the allergens, which results in the familiar symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes. Babies who suffer from pet allergies are also more likely to develop asthma.

Symptoms

• When a baby's immune system creates histamine in response to a pet allergen, it causes inflammation and swelling in nasal and airway passages. Chemicals created by the body in response to the pet allergens cause familiar allergy symptoms including watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing and asthma-related symptoms such as coughing and wheezing. Babies may also develop a rash or hives on the skin. Symptoms of pet allergies may continue for many days after initial exposure or indefinitely during chronic exposure to pet allergens.

Diagnosis

• Determining if your baby is allergic to your family pet can prove challenging, as simply removing the animal for a period of time may not create accurate results. Animal dander and pet allergens can linger throughout your house for six months or more. Allergens are also easily transported by clothing and cling to upholstery fabric.

Home Treatments

• Saline nasal rinses are efficient at treating mild pet allergic reactions, but severe reactions may require prescription allergy medications from your pediatrician. Pet allergy symptoms that persist may require that your baby be seen by an allergist for testing and treatment. Babies do not usually receive allergy shots, but if symptoms persist as the child grows older, allergy shots may be required.

Professional Treatments

• A visit to a professional allergist for skin tests may be the best option for determining if your baby is suffering from pet allergies. Skin tests will be performed by pricking the surface of the skin with a trace of a liquid form of the allergen. After 20 minutes, the allergist will look for small bumps that reveal an allergic reaction. If your baby proves to be allergic to pets, you may have to find your pet a new home and work with your allergist to create an allergen-free home.

Prevention

• You might want to wait until your child is about 6 years old to get a family pet. Older children have less severe allergic reactions to allergens. You can minimize your baby's exposure to pet allergens by cleaning and dusting your house regularly, keeping pets off furniture and making sure pets stay out of bedrooms. Carpets can trap allergens for up to six months, so consider replacing them with vinyl, tile or hardwood floors. Change your air filters regularly. Change your baby's clothes and wash his hands after exposure to pets. Invest in a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter (a highly efficient filter).

Misconceptions

• Dogs and cats are not the only animals that trigger allergy symptoms in babies. Gerbils, hamsters and other rodents can cause problems, too. Birds, especially those in the parrot and parakeet family, can trigger severe allergic reactions known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, or bird-fancier's lung, which can scar lung tissue and even be fatal to babies. Reptiles are not as likely to trigger allergies, but they carry the salmonella bacteria, which can cause dehydration, diarrhea and/or fatal reactions.