Is it possible to be so severely allergic to cats that you get bronchitis after being exposed. I threw a bridal shower for my sister a few weeks ago, and one of the bridesmaids claims she is so allergic to cats that she ended up with bronchitis a week or two after the shower b/c "the cats weakened her immune system". She was not around the cats, they were locked in the basement and all the dander was thoroughly vacuumed up. Is it possible to get this sick, or is she just being rude by blaming me?
2007-06-03 05:22:52 · 4 answers · asked by Sarah J 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Allergies
Your cats did not give her bronchitis. Nor did they weaken her immune system. They could have triggered an allergy attack though. When cats groom themselves their saliva dries on their fur and becomes airborn. This dried saliva is what most people are allergic to. It is constantly in the air in your home. I have cats and when my home is the cleanest my best friend's eyes still puff up and tear.
2007-06-03 07:14:36 · answer #1 · answered by Faith D 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
She was not being rude. It's absolutely possible to be that allergic. My sister can't go into a room where a cat or dog once lived if it hasn't been professionally cleaned. She has an asthma attack. She visited a cousin who moved into a house where they previous owners claimed the dogs never came into the house. Her throat was ticklish but gave no thought to it. An hour after she left she was in the ER with an asthma attack. Unless you had your home professionally cleaned the average vacuum cannot remove all of the pet hair or dander. A neighbor in the apartment building she had would visit her because she knew my sister could not come in the friend's apartment,because just standing at the door her throat would start to itch. And unless you have had an asthma attack or bronchitis, you will never know how weak it can make a person. She was probably starting to have problems while there but didn't want to be rude and leave, so she stayed knowing what it would do to her.
2007-06-04 16:02:39 · answer #2 · answered by bhc32219 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter used to get bronchitis from yellow #5. It is possible she reacted; and a cold she already had then became bronchitis.
My son and I are very allergic to cats too. If we were near a person that had been holding a cat, we would react. We would not even have to see the cat.
2007-06-04 07:26:20 · answer #3 · answered by pennypincher 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm allergic to cats and no, I don't think it's possible to get bronchitus. She could have had an allergic reaction to the cats even though they were downstairs (sometimes even when you vacuum and clean thoroughly, it still lingers and can provoke allergic reactions), but not enough to "weaken her immune system." I think she's just being rude and overreacting.
2007-06-03 05:28:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋