Comments on: Animals and Asthma http://www.pediatricallergyindy.com/2009/07/16/animals-and-asthma/ Pediatric Allergist Frederick E. Leickly - Indianapolis, Indiana Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:04:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: fleickly http://www.pediatricallergyindy.com/2009/07/16/animals-and-asthma/comment-page-1/#comment-551 fleickly Sat, 08 May 2010 14:25:58 +0000 http://www.leicklystory.com/?p=422#comment-551 Asthma is a chronic condition. From the perspective of a long-time sufferer you know it requires a wide variety of treatments. Avoidance of allergens, medications, and a host of other therapies. The FDA just approved a non-medical therapy for asthma in adults that uses thermal energy to alter smooth muscle. There is also significant work on the role of Vitamin D. FEL Asthma is a chronic condition. From the perspective of a long-time sufferer you know it requires a wide variety of treatments. Avoidance of allergens, medications, and a host of other therapies. The FDA just approved a non-medical therapy for asthma in adults that uses thermal energy to alter smooth muscle.
There is also significant work on the role of Vitamin D.
FEL

]]> By: Machelle Masciantonio http://www.pediatricallergyindy.com/2009/07/16/animals-and-asthma/comment-page-1/#comment-542 Machelle Masciantonio Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:51:21 +0000 http://www.leicklystory.com/?p=422#comment-542 i have been suffering from Asthma ever since i was little kid. i can only manage it by taking medicines and some food supplements. ~ i have been suffering from Asthma ever since i was little kid. i can only manage it by taking medicines and some food supplements. ~

]]> By: Rachel Papakhian http://www.pediatricallergyindy.com/2009/07/16/animals-and-asthma/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Rachel Papakhian Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:26:30 +0000 http://www.leicklystory.com/?p=422#comment-179 Hi again Dr. Leickly, First of all, thank you so much for your informative response. I really appreciate the feedback. Both babies are on Xantac for reflux, but the pediatrician has not indicated my son's chronic cough is a result of the reflux (he was diagnosed with reflux months after the cough started), however, I will bring that up again tomorrow at the doctor's office. It is good to know that the cats may not be an issue and that they are too young to be tested for such an allergy. I did forget to mention yesterday that neither baby has had an allergic reaction to any food they have had as of yet. No smoke, candles, or incense in the home. And we intentionally try to use "green" cleaning supplies and laundry detergent as well. Yes, both babies are thriving and growing and developing right on track. So it is just really this chronic cough in my son that is an issue. Again, thank you so much. This is incredibly helpful. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions. Hi again Dr. Leickly,

First of all, thank you so much for your informative response. I really appreciate the feedback.
Both babies are on Xantac for reflux, but the pediatrician has not indicated my son’s chronic cough is a result of the reflux (he was diagnosed with reflux months after the cough started), however,
I will bring that up again tomorrow at the doctor’s office. It is good to know that the cats may not be an issue and that they are too young to be tested for such an allergy. I did forget to mention yesterday that neither baby has had an allergic reaction to any food they have had as of yet. No smoke, candles, or incense in the home. And we intentionally try to use “green” cleaning supplies and laundry detergent as well.
Yes, both babies are thriving and growing and developing right on track. So it is just really this chronic cough in my son that is an issue.
Again, thank you so much. This is incredibly helpful. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions.

]]> By: fleickly http://www.pediatricallergyindy.com/2009/07/16/animals-and-asthma/comment-page-1/#comment-177 fleickly Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:26:04 +0000 http://www.leicklystory.com/?p=422#comment-177 Greetings Rachel, this is a frequent concern- a great question. There are a couple of things here; 1. It takes time for inhalant allergy to become apparent. Usually it takes about one year of exposures prior to the development of clinical symptoms. So, with a cough that started so early in life and one that has not changed in character, I would doubt that allergy to cat is the issue. It is just too early. 2. Early onset cough has a fairly long differential- there are many possible causes. It sounds like the baby is thriving and in pediatrics, that is a good sign. I would start with a chest radiograph (chest X ray). This would clear up many different reasons for the cough and is a very good screen for any structural reasons for cough. Reflux disease- can trigger cough. The cough may get worse when the child is laying down. 3. Cats- in the lore of allergy, one cat is bad however two cats may be protective! The animals have endotoxin which stimulates the child's immune system. With two cats there may be more of a stimulation and a drive away from allergy. 4. Too young to test- my response to that is that it matters what you are testing for. Food allergy which may be implicated in eczema can appear by the 2nd month of life and allergy skin tests are valid in that age group. Testing to inhalants prior to age one year would be too young. And testing to pollens prior to the third year of life would not be warranted (depending upon where you live and the nature of the pollen seasons). So not too young if it is food and skin, wait until after age one for inhalants and wait until after age 3 for the pollens. 5. Other things to consider as an irritant effect for cough would be smoke, candles, incense, strong cleaning fluids, formaldehyde etc. I hope this gives you some guidance. Keep the questions coming, My humble opinion, FEL Greetings Rachel, this is a frequent concern- a great question. There are a couple of things here;
1. It takes time for inhalant allergy to become apparent. Usually it takes about one year of exposures prior to the development of clinical symptoms. So, with a cough that started so early in life and one that has not changed in character, I would doubt that allergy to cat is the issue. It is just too early.
2. Early onset cough has a fairly long differential- there are many possible causes. It sounds like the baby is thriving and in pediatrics, that is a good sign. I would start with a chest radiograph (chest X ray). This would clear up many different reasons for the cough and is a very good screen for any structural reasons for cough. Reflux disease- can trigger cough. The cough may get worse when the child is laying down.
3. Cats- in the lore of allergy, one cat is bad however two cats may be protective! The animals have endotoxin which stimulates the child’s immune system. With two cats there may be more of a stimulation and a drive away from allergy.
4. Too young to test- my response to that is that it matters what you are testing for. Food allergy which may be implicated in eczema can appear by the 2nd month of life and allergy skin tests are valid in that age group. Testing to inhalants prior to age one year would be too young. And testing to pollens prior to the third year of life would not be warranted (depending upon where you live and the nature of the pollen seasons). So not too young if it is food and skin, wait until after age one for inhalants and wait until after age 3 for the pollens.
5. Other things to consider as an irritant effect for cough would be smoke, candles, incense, strong cleaning fluids, formaldehyde etc.
I hope this gives you some guidance. Keep the questions coming,
My humble opinion,
FEL

]]> By: Rachel Papakhian http://www.pediatricallergyindy.com/2009/07/16/animals-and-asthma/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Rachel Papakhian Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:03:46 +0000 http://www.leicklystory.com/?p=422#comment-175 Hi Dr. Leickly, I am friends with your daughter Bethany (we went to college at the same time at IU) and we both now live in the DC metro area. So we've been friends for years. And I know we've met at some point, many years ago though. I am writing because I have 7.5 month old fraternal boy girl twins (and a 5 year old) and am concerned my infant son may have allergies. He has had a cough since he was about one month old and off and on a clear runny nose. He also sneezes frequently. We have 2 cats. I am worried that his cough is not going away and am not sure what is causing it. We have discussed it with our pediatrician on a number of occasions and I am taking him back to the pediatrician on Friday (October 9th) to have him checked again. He has been exposed to cats since birth as we have had our cats for many years. Should I be concerned about a pet allergy or could it be a different environmental issue that is causing the cough? And what can I do about it? Our pediatrician has mentioned that it could very well be an allergy but that he is too young to be tested. Is this accurate? I have placed an air purifier in the bedroom right next to his crib. We take him in warm steamy showers daily and use saline in his nose. My husband has many seasonal and environmental allergies (pollen, ragweed, mold, dust) and is also allergic to ibuprofen. He is also "supposedly" allergic to cats and dogs although he is not bothered by being around them. He grew up with a dog and the dog allergy did bother him when he was younger. So I am not sure if genetics plays a role. Our 5 year old son does seem to maybe have some seasonal allergies and we are going to have him tested by a pediatric allergist next week. Anyhow--my main concern right now is my 7 month old son. By the way, his twin sister does not have the same symptoms, however, she does sneeze more often than I remember my now 5 year old sneezing at this age. I should also mention that my 7 month old son is very "happy go lucky" so his mood and disposition do not seem to be too impacted by this chronic cough. Could it be from the cats or possibly another environmental allergy and how can we determine this? I would greatly appreciate your input and your recommendations of what to do next in terms of having him evaluated/treated. Thank you so much. Hi Dr. Leickly,

I am friends with your daughter Bethany (we went to college at the same time at IU) and we both now live in the DC metro area. So we’ve been friends for years. And I know we’ve met at some point, many years ago though. I am writing because I have 7.5 month old fraternal boy girl twins (and a 5 year old) and am concerned my infant son may have allergies. He has had a cough since he was about one month old and off and on a clear runny nose. He also sneezes frequently. We have 2 cats. I am worried that his cough is not going away and am not sure what is causing it. We have discussed it with our pediatrician on a number of occasions and I am taking him back to the pediatrician on Friday (October 9th) to have him checked again. He has been exposed to cats since birth as we have had our cats for many years. Should I be concerned about a pet allergy or could it be a different environmental issue that is causing the cough? And what can I do about it? Our pediatrician has mentioned that it could very well be an allergy but that he is too young to be tested. Is this accurate? I have placed an air purifier in the bedroom right next to his crib. We take him in warm steamy showers daily and use saline in his nose. My husband has many seasonal and environmental allergies (pollen, ragweed, mold, dust) and is also allergic to ibuprofen. He is also “supposedly” allergic to cats and dogs although he is not bothered by being around them. He grew up with a dog and the dog allergy did bother him when he was younger. So I am not sure if genetics plays a role. Our 5 year old son does seem to maybe have some seasonal allergies and we are going to have him tested by a pediatric allergist next week.
Anyhow–my main concern right now is my 7 month old son. By the way, his twin sister does not have the same symptoms, however, she does sneeze more often than I remember my now 5 year old sneezing at this age. I should also mention that my 7 month old son is very “happy go lucky” so his mood and disposition do not seem to be too impacted by this chronic cough. Could it be from the cats or possibly another environmental allergy and how can we determine this?
I would greatly appreciate your input and your recommendations of what to do next in terms of having him evaluated/treated.
Thank you so much.

]]> By: Fred Leickly http://www.pediatricallergyindy.com/2009/07/16/animals-and-asthma/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Fred Leickly Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:41:23 +0000 http://www.leicklystory.com/?p=422#comment-165 This keeps going back and forward. The basic idea is under the 'Hygiene Hypothesis'. This is the thought that all babies are born with an immune system geared for allergic responses. As the child is exposed to things, the immune system changes away from being allergy prone. With the animals it is their endotoxin that stimulates the immune system away from allergy. Dogs are protective especially having a number of them. The same would go for cats, you have to be continuously exposed at a critical time with enough endotoxin to be non-allergic. I suppose that the intermittant cat exposure (vs. regular) was enough to cause sensitization. This is all a theory. Some day it will be figured out. Thanks, Fred Leickly This keeps going back and forward. The basic idea is under the ‘Hygiene Hypothesis’. This is the thought that all babies are born with an immune system geared for allergic responses. As the child is exposed to things, the immune system changes away from being allergy prone.
With the animals it is their endotoxin that stimulates the immune system away from allergy. Dogs are protective especially having a number of them. The same would go for cats, you have to be continuously exposed at a critical time with enough endotoxin to be non-allergic. I suppose that the intermittant cat exposure (vs. regular) was enough to cause sensitization.
This is all a theory. Some day it will be figured out.
Thanks,
Fred Leickly

]]> By: Rebecca Cooley http://www.pediatricallergyindy.com/2009/07/16/animals-and-asthma/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Rebecca Cooley Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:37:40 +0000 http://www.leicklystory.com/?p=422#comment-162 My six-year-old daughter is allergic to cats, not dogs. A few years ago I read that there was thought to be a connection between early exposure to animals and allergy. Since then, I've wondered if this is true with her. Our dog's bed was not too far from where we kept her high chair. However, her only exposure to cats was infrequent petting of our barn cats. My six-year-old daughter is allergic to cats, not dogs. A few years ago I read that there was thought to be a connection between early exposure to animals and allergy. Since then, I’ve wondered if this is true with her. Our dog’s bed was not too far from where we kept her high chair. However, her only exposure to cats was infrequent petting of our barn cats.

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