New research from Madrid, Spain is showing that people with cat dander allergies can build up a tolerance through immunotherapy — meaning that people with cat allergies may not be forced to get rid of their furry friends!
Immunotherapy is the idea that a person’s immune system can learn to tolerate an allergy trigger or allergen based on exposure to gradually increasing amounts of the trigger. Therapy starts with small amounts that don’t cause an allergic reaction and gets bigger over time. The Spanish researchers used SLIT — sublingual immunotherapy, or allergens placed under the tongue and absorbed into the system.
Children with cat allergies participated in the year long study at the Hospital Ramon y Cajal in Madrid. Half of the fifty participants received cat dander extract via sublingual immunotherapy and the other half had placebo drops. Throughout the year, the participants periodically spent up to ninety minutes in a room with a cat — exposing them to the allergy trigger.
The results? Sixty-two percent of the children who received SLIT treatments showed a significant reduction in symptoms. They showed improved peak flow (exhalation) values during exposure to the allergen. Children who received SLIT treatments also showed less of a skin reaction to the cat dander extract. The children in the placebo group showed no changes in symptoms, peak flow values, or skin reactions.
The SLIT treatment group did not report any adverse reactions to the therapy. Researchers believed that the sublingual immunotherapy gave a more natural exposure to the allergens, allowing the children to build up a tolerance for the cat dander. However, the lead researcher did note that removing the cat from the home should be the first thing considered when dealing with cat dander allergies.
Other things you can do to deal with pet allergies:
- Keep the pet out of bedrooms and off the bed.
- Remove carpets, which can trap dander and other allergens.
- Remove curtains, which can trap dander and other allergens.
- Clean often.
- Take medication to relieve allergy symptoms.