Do I have a cat allergy?
Yes, allergy testing can determine if you are allergic to cats. There are two available tests provided by a board-certified allergist. A skin prick test for cats is a simple test that involves scratching the skin with cat extract. 15 minutes later the pricked skin is checked for a reaction. The second testing option is a blood test called a specific IgE test for a cat allergy. Typically, all aeroallergens are tested with both tests. These include cat, dog, pollen, mold, roach, feather, and dust mite. It may be helpful to be tested for other allergies at the same time. It is possible to develop a cat allergy even if you were not allergic before. Here is more information on pet allergies.
Douglas T. Johnston, DO, FAAAAI, FACAAI, is an allergist/clinical immunologist at Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Assistant Professor at Edward Via School of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He is a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). He has lectured at national and international medical conferences and has publications in several medical journals, including “Clinical Immunology,” “World Allergy Organization Journal,” “Journal of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology,” “The Journal of the American Medical Association,” and the “New England Journal of Medicine.”
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