Allergies In Infants Reduced By Parental Pacifier Sucking

Image courtesy of Phaitoon/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Decreases In Asthma, Eczema and Sensitization To Allergies.

Parents who clean their baby’s pacifier by sucking on it may be protecting their infants from developing allergies, according to an article published online May 6 in Pediatrics.

Children whose parents sucked their pacifiers to clean them before giving them to the children were less likely to have asthma, eczema and sensitization to potential allergens at 18 months of age than children whose parents did not suck the pacifiers.

Read more about this HERE

Image courtesy of Phaitoon/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Decreases In Asthma, Eczema and Sensitization To Allergies.

Parents who clean their baby’s pacifier by sucking on it may be protecting their infants from developing allergies, according to an article published online May 6 in Pediatrics.

Children whose parents sucked their pacifiers to clean them before giving them to the children were less likely to have asthma, eczema and sensitization to potential allergens at 18 months of age than children whose parents did not suck the pacifiers.

Read more about this HERE

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Cetirizine For Allergies in Cats

Papich, M. G., E. K. Schooley, et al. (2008). "Pharmacokinetics of cetirizine in healthy cats." Am J Vet Res 69(5): 670-4.

Cats may suffer from various manifestations of allergic disease affecting body systems such as the skin, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. Glucocorticoids such as prednisone are effective for treating allergic disease in cats, but may be associated with undesirable adverse effects. Cetirizine (Zyrtec, Pfizer), a second-generation antihistamine, is effective in humans for treatment of allergic symptoms and appears to have less adverse effects than first-generation antihistamines. Although there is anecdotal information about the use of cetirizine in cats, no published pharmacokinetic studies exist and an appropriate oral dose has not been established. In this study, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of cetirizine after oral administration of a single dose was characterized in cats. Each of nine healthy cats was given a single oral dose of 5 mg cetirizine. Blood samples were collected at various time points up to 24 hours after administration and plasma concentrations of cetirizine were analyzed. Cats given this single oral dose of cetirizine had high plasma concentrations compared with those reported in humans, a long halflife, and lack of detectable adverse effects. The results support once daily dosing of cetirizine in cats. Further studies evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of this drug in cats with allergic disease need to be performed, as well as multipledose pharmacokinetic and safety studies. It appears that cetirizine may be a useful alternative to glucocorticoids in cats with allergic disease.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Papich, M. G., E. K. Schooley, et al. (2008). "Pharmacokinetics of cetirizine in healthy cats." Am J Vet Res 69(5): 670-4.

Cats may suffer from various manifestations of allergic disease affecting body systems such as the skin, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. Glucocorticoids such as prednisone are effective for treating allergic disease in cats, but may be associated with undesirable adverse effects. Cetirizine (Zyrtec, Pfizer), a second-generation antihistamine, is effective in humans for treatment of allergic symptoms and appears to have less adverse effects than first-generation antihistamines. Although there is anecdotal information about the use of cetirizine in cats, no published pharmacokinetic studies exist and an appropriate oral dose has not been established. In this study, the pharmacokinetic characteristics of cetirizine after oral administration of a single dose was characterized in cats. Each of nine healthy cats was given a single oral dose of 5 mg cetirizine. Blood samples were collected at various time points up to 24 hours after administration and plasma concentrations of cetirizine were analyzed. Cats given this single oral dose of cetirizine had high plasma concentrations compared with those reported in humans, a long halflife, and lack of detectable adverse effects. The results support once daily dosing of cetirizine in cats. Further studies evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of this drug in cats with allergic disease need to be performed, as well as multipledose pharmacokinetic and safety studies. It appears that cetirizine may be a useful alternative to glucocorticoids in cats with allergic disease.
>> PubMed abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

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Yeast Overgrowth in Cats With Allergic Skin Disease

Ordeix, L., F. Galeotti, et al. (2007). "Malassezia spp. overgrowth in allergic cats." Vet Dermatol 18(5): 316-23.

Malassezia (formerly known as Pityrosporum) are yeasts found on the skin surface of animals and humans. A series of 18 cats with skin disease is reported; 16 of which were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. All were diagnosed with overgrowth of Malassezia on cytological examination or fungal culture. Skin lesions included multifocal alopecia, erythema, crusting and greasy adherent brownish scales. Treatment consisted of antifungal therapy alone, antifungal plus antibacterial therapy, or antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy. After 3 to 4 weeks, substantial improvement was seen in all cats treated with combination therapy, and in 71% of cats treated with antifungal therapy alone. Malassezia overgrowth may be a secondary problem in some allergic cats, especially those with greasy adherent brownish scales.
>> PubMed abtract

Related article:
Ahman, S., N. Perrins, et al. (2007). "Treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis-associated seborrhoeic dermatitis in Devon Rex cats with itraconazole--a pilot study." Vet Dermatol 18(3): 171-4.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Ordeix, L., F. Galeotti, et al. (2007). "Malassezia spp. overgrowth in allergic cats." Vet Dermatol 18(5): 316-23.

Malassezia (formerly known as Pityrosporum) are yeasts found on the skin surface of animals and humans. A series of 18 cats with skin disease is reported; 16 of which were diagnosed with atopic dermatitis. All were diagnosed with overgrowth of Malassezia on cytological examination or fungal culture. Skin lesions included multifocal alopecia, erythema, crusting and greasy adherent brownish scales. Treatment consisted of antifungal therapy alone, antifungal plus antibacterial therapy, or antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy. After 3 to 4 weeks, substantial improvement was seen in all cats treated with combination therapy, and in 71% of cats treated with antifungal therapy alone. Malassezia overgrowth may be a secondary problem in some allergic cats, especially those with greasy adherent brownish scales.
>> PubMed abtract

Related article:
Ahman, S., N. Perrins, et al. (2007). "Treatment of Malassezia pachydermatis-associated seborrhoeic dermatitis in Devon Rex cats with itraconazole--a pilot study." Vet Dermatol 18(3): 171-4.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Read More