DD age 4 suddenly allergic to cat?!

[alfiethetortoise]

We have had a cat (Tom) from a kitten for just over a year. No problems with allergies etc. This last week she came down with a real bad cough. Took her to the doctors on Monday and he says that it isn't on her chest that much so doesn't need antibiotics and come back on Friday if it hasn't gone.

Today I have noticed that her cough worsens when the cat is in the room. He is in the kitchen most of the time and only comes into the living room in the evenings. DD was complaining of itchy eyes and started coughing badly within 5 mins of him being in the room.

What do I do about this?! She hates piriton allergy syrup! Her dad is allergic to dogs. I really don't want to get rid of the cat!

She had excema bad in the past, only usually in winter. She doesn't have asthma but she has had problems with a rattly cough she couldn't shift in the past. There is no asthma in the past. Do I take her back tomorrow and ask for an allergy test? DD will be devastated to get rid of the cat :o

Not a dr but have an asthmatic child (who, thank the lord, is not allergic to our animals, but highly allergic to cigarette smoke and something present in the air around June July which makes us almost permanent residents of our local paediatric A&E). Get your daughter a blood test to specifically test for the main allergens (they give you fab local anaesthetic cream to put on so it doesn't hurt). Cat hair gets everywhere I think unlikely for her to only show allergic reaction to a cat when the cat is in the room, as cat hair (and specifically the sylvia, which is what the main allergy is) sticks and will be around her all the time.
I thought my animals may have been responsible for ds being poorly and was a bit resentful of them until I discovered it wasn't them. Just ask for an allergy test before sending poor puss to 'a farm' please

I agree with babybarrister, get tested.

have son who is quite badly allergic to dogs and less so to cats.

the long term impact on general health and education with continued exposure may not be in your childs best interests.