Allergies leave some pet lovers in conflict

"Over the years, an increasing number of Chinese families have begun keeping pets, and around 10 percent of patients visiting the department are found to have pet allergies," said Wang Xueyan, head of the center, during an interview.

Wang added that families that do not raise pets could also have allergy problems due to encounters with animals in elevators and other public spaces. Some people begin exhibiting symptoms after friends or family members who keep pets pay a visit.

Wang said that the pet allergy clinic now receives around 20 to 30 patients daily. "A large number of visitors are young and middle-aged adults. There are also many children, as well as couples without children, as this group is more inclined to raise pets," she said.

Reducing exposure to known allergens is the most effective way to cope with pet allergies. "A patient who kept parrots used to have an asthma attack whenever he came inside. He later quit the hobby and moved to a new home and all symptoms vanished quickly," she said.

However, most patients are hesitant or outright opposed to sending their pets away.

"I have patients who cry in front of me, devastated by the thought of re-homing their pets," she said. "In some cases, an allergic mother had to move out of her son's home and rent an apartment on her own because the son was unwilling to send his pet dog away. Some couples had to live separately or divorce because they refused to prioritize their partners over their pets."

Wang said that she understood patients' deep bonds with their pets. "Pets have an irreplaceable part in their lives," she said. "As doctors, we will strive to persuade them to minimize contact with pet allergens to protect their health."

"It is important to raise awareness about pet allergies and offer psychological consultations for allergic pet owners," she added.

Zhang visited several hospitals in Beijing and researched solutions to pet allergies in developed countries. "There were no magic cures and receiving allergen immunotherapy seemed to be the best and viable way for me to deal with it."

Allergen immunotherapy involves taking allergy shots regularly from low to high doses to teach the body to tolerate allergens. "Patient compliance is significant because the treatment typically lasts two to three years," said Wang.

Zhang said that he initiated treatment at Beijing Shijitan Hospital about a year ago.

"At first, I had to get the prescription from the Beijing Shijitan Hospital located about an hour's drive away from my home about once a month, and brought the shots back to community clinics nearby and received them once a week," he said. "It felt troublesome because of the long trip back and forth to the hospital."

"Now as the treatment regimen has changed, I only need to go to the hospital every few months."

Zhang said that he feels his condition has stabilized, although sometimes he still suffers from severe sneezes or breathing difficulties.

"I pay attention to my daily habits to mitigate allergic reactions, such as regularly cleaning my home and using air purifiers," he said. "But regarding doctors' suggestions that I should avoid hugging or kissing Echo, they are too difficult to follow."

Aside from treatment and medications, Wang said that it is important to stay positive and strengthen your immune system by ensuring sufficient sleep, exercising regularly and keeping a healthy diet.

Liu Xinyin, a 32-year-old in Jiangsu province, adopted a Pomeranian in 2016 despite constant allergic reactions to pollen and seafood. "I've liked animals since childhood and just wanted to give it a try to see if my love for her would prevail over allergies," she said.

Her allergic reaction got worse in 2018, but the turning point was when her baby son began showing serious symptoms — an all-over body rash and asthma.

"As difficult as the decision was, I decided to find a new owner for my dog because it would be unfair for my son to endure the discomfort and put him at a potential health risk," she said.

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn