DD1 had allergic reaction at CM's today (poss. cats)... What to do?

[Ellbell]

My dds have been going to their CM since dd1 was 3.5 (she has just turned 8) and dd1 has never had a problem. However, CM has been on maternity leave and has just come back to work but (for various complicated reasons) is only having them one day a week till after the summer.

Today I went to pick the girls up and dd1's eyes were red, swollen and streaming. One eye was starting to close up. Her face and neck were red and blotchy and itching like mad. CM has two cats, which have never affected dd before, but dh is quite strongly allergic to cats, so I suspect the cats may have something to do with it. (Also, dh only became allergic in adolescence.) She didn't eat/drink anything unusual, so it's not that. It's either cats or dust (CM's dh was hoovering apparently earlier on...)

Whizzed dd to chemist and have got piriton and eye drops and by 8.00 she was fine again... just a tiny bit itchy but nothing serious. However, I am wondering what to do next. Should I take her to the GP and get her tested for allergies? Currently she is meant to be going to CM one day a week till the summer holidays and then back to her full-time in September. But I can't send her if she's going to be affected like that every day. It's just not fair on her (tears were literally streaming down her face). The Piriton worked, and I'll give it to the CM for next week in case it's needed. But I can't give her Piriton every day can I? (Have just seen thread about teeth!) Or do you think that with daily exposure she might get used to the cats (or whatever the allergen is) again? She was fine between the ages of 3.5 and 7.5!

CM is a wonderful CM whom the girls adore, so I'm quite gutted about this.

Any ideas anyone? I have no experience of allergies whatsoever.

(PS Have to disappear to cook now, so don't think I'm being rude if I don't respond on here for a while. I'll be back later on, and am very grateful for any replies.)

I have a severe allergy to cats and dogs. It started suddenly when I was 9. My parents kept me away from them. I think you may have to find a new childminder or ask the cm to hoover and lock the cats out of the house when your dd is there. Poor thing, it's a horrid thing to have.

Thanks avenanap. My dh's allergy started like that too. He's OK with dogs though, it's just cats that affect him. Trouble is, even if the cats aren't there, their hair is in everything (carpet, sofas, etc.). DH can get affected just by being in a 'catty' environment - he doesn't have to see such a thing as a real live cat!

My lovely neighbour has a cat. I can't have him in my house because of the cat fur on his clothes. I'm very sad about that . Another childminder unless you are prepared to drug her every time she goes to the CM.

my sister has always been allergic to cats but didin;t realise exactly how allergic she was until we got a kitten (me and dh that is)

we never had cats as kids so wasnt being mean

anyway she comes to out house jst at the weekend most weekeneds and started out with really swollen eyes etc, its been nearly a year and now the cat will sit on her knee all night and she doesnt get a reaction to her at all

although not sure how common this is

That's the thing, mustsleep... I wonder if, once she's going there every day, she'll get used to the cats again. But it was a really nasty reaction (though not the dangerous swelling kind, thankfully) and I don't want to put her through that too often.

Right, really am going to cook now or dh will have no food when he comes in.

Erm. No I'm afraid not. I've tried that and ended up in a wheezing, sneezing, sore eyed mess. The only thing you can do is avoid the cats or give her medication.

I became allergic to cats & dogs etc when I was about 10 and remember often having problems as all my best friends had either cats or dogs. Dogs were worse as they made me wheezy, cats was like with your daughter - sneezing & itching. If I go to anyone's house with a cat now I'm really conscious of not touching my eyes as once you done that it's really bad.

If the CM puts the cat out and your dd avoids all the most furry seats and knows not to touch her eyes / face, then she might get away with just some itchy hands which can be soothed with Eurax cream. It depends on how strong her reaction is and how long she is there for.

BW to her anyway; I was gutted as a kid that I couldn't go horse riding, have the class gerbil home etc etc...

I have a dog alergy and have a dog and as long as i do not put my face near her or stroke her and then touch my face i am ok. i also have to hoover daily.

i have many other allergies and was about the same age as your DD's when mine were diagnosed so perhaps you could teach your children to either a) not touch the cat or b) make sure they wash their hands straight after, before they do anything else.

also it was my thread with the piriton. (DD doesnt have it daily, although at certain times of the year she can for 2wks) Perhaps you could just give a spoonful to your DD in the morning before she goes to the CM (make sure she washes teeth properly afterwards!)

i'm not medical BIME i have found that when skin goes blotchy it is usually an internal allergy.

it is possible that the break away from CM allowed the immune system to stop fighting the allergy and therefore upon their return to her, your DD became allergic.

The easiest way (not the nicest) is to see what happens when your DD touches the cat & then her face. You will have your answer one way or another.

Thanks all. Have come back as promised (but slightly late!). I don't like the thought of experimenting on dd, sue, but OTOH it would, as you say, give me an answer. I am crossing everything that she doesn't become allergic to dogs, as we have a much beloved and very elderly dog. However dh is OK with dogs and reacts to cats in the way dd did today, so there is hope!

ATM I am mostly feeling gutted for dd and for the CM. CM had a really rough pregnancy and first few months with new baby and (from what she's said to me) she was looking forward to having the dds again as much as they were looking forward to going back to her. She's like part of our family and I really hope we can find a way to work this out.

Thanks for all your thoughts, anyway. I appreciate it (especially as I started the thread and then walked away from it!).