ASTHMA IN CHILDREN: THE INHALED ALLERGENS – ANIMALS AS ALLERGENS

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Some animals and insects are known to act as allergens and cause asthma.

Animals. Henry Hyde Salter has given the first accurate description of the attacks of asthma caused by an exposure to a cat. In his book on asthma published around the middle of the nineteenth century, he wrote:

‘This singular phenomenon is, I imagine, almost peculiar to myself. The cause of this asthma is the proximity of a common domestic cat; the symptoms are very similar to those of hay fever, and, as in the case of hay fever, are occasioned by some sudden influence inappreciable by the senses. I cannot recollect at what time I first became subject to the cat asthma, but I believe the susceptibility has existed

from the earliest period of even a pet dog can cause life. I believe there are even some asthma symptoms even if I were sitting by the fire and the cat sleeping on the hearthrug; but the effect is much greater when the cat is at the distance of about one or two feet or closer; it is further increased by the rising of the fur and moving and rubbing about; but most of all when it is in the lap, just under the face…. The asthmatic spasm is immediate and violent and accompanied with sneezing, burning and watery condition of the eyes and nose and excessive itching of the skin…., I believe that if the cause were suffered to continue, all or most of the other symptoms of hay fever would ensue, only with a more excessive and conspicuous asthma. After the removal of the cause, and if the paroxysm is not very severe, the cure is effected in five or ten minutes, leaving, as in all other cases of asthmatic spasm, a tendency to mucus at the top of the wind pipe, which being repeatedly removed in the ordinary way the last symptom disappears, and the lungs and throat resume their normal condition’.

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ASTHMA IN CHILDREN: THE INHALED ALLERGENS – ANIMALS AS ALLERGENSSome animals and insects are known to act as allergens and cause asthma.Animals. Henry Hyde Salter has given the first accurate description of the attacks of asthma caused by an exposure to a cat. In his book on asthma published around the middle of the nineteenth century, he wrote:’This singular phenomenon is, I imagine, almost peculiar to myself. The cause of this asthma is the proximity of a common domestic cat; the symptoms are very similar to those of hay fever, and, as in the case of hay fever, are occasioned by some sudden influence inappreciable by the senses. I cannot recollect at what time I first became subject to the cat asthma, but I believe the susceptibility has existedfrom the earliest period of even a pet dog can cause life. I believe there are even some asthma symptoms even if I were sitting by the fire and the cat sleeping on the hearthrug; but the effect is much greater when the cat is at the distance of about one or two feet or closer; it is further increased by the rising of the fur and moving and rubbing about; but most of all when it is in the lap, just under the face…. The asthmatic spasm is immediate and violent and accompanied with sneezing, burning and watery condition of the eyes and nose and excessive itching of the skin…., I believe that if the cause were suffered to continue, all or most of the other symptoms of hay fever would ensue, only with a more excessive and conspicuous asthma. After the removal of the cause, and if the paroxysm is not very severe, the cure is effected in five or ten minutes, leaving, as in all other cases of asthmatic spasm, a tendency to mucus at the top of the wind pipe, which being repeatedly removed in the ordinary way the last symptom disappears, and the lungs and throat resume their normal condition’.*30\260\8*

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