Is is possible to develop allergies? - Allergies Message Board

d3sire · 12-13-2006, 07:31 PM

I have 2 cats & have had cats since childhood. I have never had any kind of allergic reaction to them. Recently when I touch them or touch something with fur on it my eyes burn, itch & water, I get an itchy feeling in my throat and sometimes a runny nose. For the past 3 days I have been breaking out in incredibly itchy hives all over my body. The hives look like little mosquito bites at first but spread & join into huge hives within seconds. They may last an hour or so & than reappear somewhere else on my body. I am pretty sure this is a result of an allergic reaction but Im not sure what is it that I am allergic to?... Is it possible that after 20 years I could have developed an allergy to cats??

ETA: Anyone have a remedy for the itching? it is driving me crazy

Titchou · 12-13-2006, 09:18 PM

Absolutely! Try taking a benedryl at night...see if it helps. Then you'll know.

sneezydiva · 12-13-2006, 09:29 PM

Did you recently put a flea treatment on your cats, such as Frontline? I am incredibly allergic to Frontline, I break out in the worst rash you've ever seen.

For the rash use hydrocortizone cream and take some Benedryl.

dustoffkid · 12-14-2006, 05:42 AM

I also lived with cats all through my growing-up years, and now I can't be in the same house with one.

Cats were one of the worst reactions I had when I was tested for allergies.

Benadryl at bedtime might help, or try Claritin for the daytime.

And checking out the flea treatment is a good idea, too.

Titchou · 12-14-2006, 01:12 PM

Zyrtec is great for cat allergies...get your doc to give you a sample. If it works and you don;'t have good insurance, order from Canada as Cetirizine..it's OTC there..will be generic here in a year or so...