Cat / kitten allergy at childminders - advice please!

[JessieEssex]

Hi, my 3yo DD has been going to the same childminder for 2 years and recently has had two allergic episodes there. These consisted of swollen red eyes and a nettle-like rash on her face. She was given piriton (with my permission) and the symptoms went straight away. The childminder has recently got two new kittens (she already had two cats) and thinks this this is a reaction to them, and particularly after she has touched them. The childminder is now worried about having my DD and wants me to get medical advice. I have an appointment booked with the GP, but can anyone answer some questions in the meantime?

• can you be allergic to some cats and not others? My DD is in contact with lots of them with no reaction
• the childminder says that my DD was quite dizzy after one reaction, but at the time dismissed this as her being too hot (she was in layers of fancy dress!) could this be a symptom?
• could the allergy get worse and therefore more dangerous?
• is there any problem with giving piriton or similar regularly (once a week)?

I don't want to dismiss this but at the same time I don't want to panic and lose a very good childminder.
Thanks in advance!

I am highly allergic to cats, but even I experience variations in the onset and severity of my symptoms. My understanding of allergies is that you have a tolerance level, and once you reach that, your symptoms appear. So, given that there are now twice as many allergens in the house (FOUR Cats?!!) she may reach her tolerance more quickly. I also notice that I am more allergic to some cats than others. Nothing to do with hair length, breed of cat, gender, spayed or not spayed, but may be to do with size of house/space. e.g., I was in a friend's large house who has a handsome Burmese, totally fine. But in her car, I sneeze madly.

Re anti-histamines, they make me feel dreadful, like a hangover. This has been the same with different anti-histamine drugs. Both DS and DH have same experience. So having to rely on drugs is not ideal. But having allergic reaction isn't nice either.

Re continual exposure to an allergen, I'm not sure what effect this has on the sufferer. I have DSD who is convinced her asthma was exacerbated/created by her mother having cats and dogs in the house.

However, this is all negative and no doubt other posters will tell you something different. This is just my subjective experience.

Good luck.

DW has allergic reactions to some dog breeds and not others so I'd guess it can be the same with cats.

Thanks both. Yep tuhlulah, FOUR cats. I was a bit when she got two more...
I saw the GP briefly on Tuesday and she said to carry on with caution, to not let her touch the cats and to reconsider if any wheezing starts or if the symptoms start appearing without physical contact. DD went to the childminder's yesterday and managed not to touch the kittens all day (no mean feat for a three year old!) and was absolutely fine.