Had anyone’s child gotten over cat allergy?

[StarScream22]

My daughter suddenly about 6 months ago became allergic to the cat (according to the doctor). He prescribed nasal drops But they’ve done nothing. I’m not exaggerating, she sniffs every 2-3 seconds and it’s getting to the point I’m struggling to be in the same room. I feel like I’m going to snap. The doctor said not to get rid of the cat as she will eventually get over the mild allergy with exposure. I’m not sure how much longer I can cope with the sniffing! I don’t know wether to give piriton to help?
Aibu in keeping the cat or will she grow out of it.

It might not make much of a difference if the cat is moved temporarily.

I went to stay with a friend whose cat had died a couple of months previously. The house had been hoovered regularly, including immediately before I arrived, and I was still affected.

Not a child but we got our cat in the knowledge that my partner was lifelong allergic

It took about 3 months for her to adjust, then about another 3 months with occasional flare-ups

Now she still is sometimes affected but only if she's run down or ill

Cat dander can still stay in the house for upto a year, it will be in soft furnishing and carpets etc. There’s no point in moving the car for a few days.

Can't believe people are saying just get rid of the cat like it's that easy

OP how did your dr originally decide it’s an allergy to the cat? It sounded like he ran out of treatable options so went with a lazy diagnosis.

An allergy test involves (where I live not UK), getting tested against numerous common allergens. When I’ve had it done years ago it involved a nurse or medical professional putting numerous little scratches on your back and in each scratch a different possible alergen. Animals, dust, diary, nuts, seafood, grass seeds - there are tonnes of different things people can show some type of allergic reaction to. Did your dr do any of this or just tell you it was a cat to give you any stupid diagnosis to shut you up?

Find someone better and demand an allergy test. Allergies can definitely build up over time. But they are also definitely treatable for minor reactions like sniffy runny noises. Major allergens can cause anaphylactic shock and these are more difficult. Treatments involve being desensitised to the alergen over a period of time. YEARS ago I was desensitised to dust as I had a dust allergy that basically over time built up to runny nose and eyes, sneezing and sinus symptoms. Desensitisation then involves weekly injections of something for about three months. This was about 20 years ago and back then sounded like a load of crap to me but it did actually work and probably treatment has improved by now.

But your doctor sounds like a lazy twat. Get answers from someone else. Also your daughters sniffing would be a habit by now like some people who chew their nails etc so even if whatever treatment she gets starts to work it may be a while before her symptoms ease.

I’ve got another phone appointment next week with my usual doctor so fingers crossed we can get something sorted! She’s been getting nose bleeds so something needs to be done.

I'm wondering if it's actually a tic? If it started after a stressful event it would make sense. My daughters tic is a small cough, almost like clearing her throat. She has no idea she's doing it.

I think it might be too. But I want to get an allergy test done to rule it out, I don’t see why they won’t do that. If I’m going to have to pay for private therapy I think it’s fair to have allergies tested first.

My DH has allergies, he's allergic to dogs and he has asthma and bad hay fever. He'd been told that he was allergic to cats as well. But then when he met me, I already had a cat and he discovered that he wasn't allergic to cats after all. I thankfully didn't have to choose between him and my cat.

In your DD's case, I find it hard to believe it's an allergy to cats that's causing your DD's symptoms. And if it is trauma related, then losing the cat won't help at all, as she obviously really loves it. She needs an allergy test, as other PPs have said.