By KRISTEN LEVINE
Tribune correspondent

TAMPA - Spring is a challenge for many people with allergies, but there are 42 million Americans who battle with pet allergies all year long.

Of those battling pet allergies, 83 percent say they would never give up their pet, according to statistics from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Tona Bell of Tampa is one pet owner unwilling to let allergies prevent her from having animal companionship.

“I will never get rid of my cats, and I even want to get a dog,” says Bell, who is allergic to pets and has seasonal allergies.

She takes decongestants or antihistamines when symptoms become difficult. Lately, she has gone to an acupuncturist and taken herbs to combat seasonal allergies.

“I have learned to deal with occasional sneezing and itchy eyes. My babies are worth it.”

Many families are unaware that someone in the household has a pet allergy until well after they’ve developed a bond with the pet.

“The symptoms evolve very slowly,” explains Roberto Garcia-Ibanez, a pediatric allergy specialist in Tampa. “It would be great if they would [develop quickly] so that people could discover them right away.”

Those suffering with pet allergy symptoms can feel like they have 40 percent of a cold all of the time, Garcia-Ibanez says.

About 20 percent of the population has a predisposition to develop allergies, Garcia-Ibanez says. And, if you are predisposed, there’s nothing you can do to prevent them from developing.

People typically are allergic to cats and dogs, which also happen to be the most popular pets, he says.

“Unfortunately, allergies never really go away,” Garcia-Ibanez says. “We can alleviate the symptoms, and we can shift the response to the allergies, but curing is impossible.”

Allergic Reactions Vary

Pet hair generally gets the blame for causing allergic reactions.

But hair is rarely the cause, says Mark C. Glaum, an assistant professor with the University of South Florida College of Medicine’s Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

“People who are allergic to pets are mainly reacting to proteins made by the skin of the animal,” Glaum says. “If you shave the fur off, the protein is still detected on the shaved skin. Depending on the animal, some of the protein is also found in fur, saliva and other excretions.”

Here’s how it happens. The protein dries on the animal’s skin and becomes airborne when it scratches, shakes or moves. Because the protein is sticky, it can get stuck on the animal’s fur and the owners’ clothing, walls, furniture or carpeting. When a person predisposed to pet allergens comes in contact with the protein, his immune system mistakenly recognizes the animal dander as a foreign invader and makes a response to help defend his body against it.

Symptoms can include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, sinus infections, eczema, hives and watery eyes. Bronchial asthma may even develop.

“The most troubling part of the whole thing is the symptoms degrade the quality of life for the pet owner, Garcia-Ibanez says. “If asthma develops, it is a serious condition that has a mortality rate.”

The only way to completely resolve pet allergy symptoms is to remove the animal from the home. Even then, it can take about a year for the allergens to drop to the levels of a nonpet home.

There are ways to reduce the amount of allergens in the home.

For instance, don’t share your sleeping quarters with a pet because pet dander accumulates most where an animal sleeps.

“Pet owners can at least create an allergy-free haven in the bedroom, which is where we spend most of our life,” Garcia-Ibanez says. “Also, install free-standing HEPA filters in the bedroom to reduce airborne allergens.”

It’s not a good idea not to have wall-to-wall carpeting; carpet is a primary reservoir for pet dander, Glaum says.

Temporary Solutions

You can reduce dander by vacuuming frequently, cleaning hard surfaces with a damp cloth and replacing filters monthly in your air conditioner with high-quality allergen filters.

“These systems circulate all the air in the home,” Glaum says. “Focusing energy and resources on effective air filtration will make a difference.”

Bell fights the dander in her house with a HEPA vacuum cleaner. She also zips her mattresses and pillows in covers to cut down on pet dander and dust mites.

Shaving the pet’s fur won’t make much difference to allergy sufferers. Frequent bathing of the pet can reduce dander, but that’s a temporary solution.

Washing the pet’s bedding can reduce dander. Try frequent cleanings of its favorite nap spots, too.

There are products on the market that can help.

Sure Fit makes a new pet bed with built-in Scotchgard protector to resist stains. It’s machine washable, making it easy to remove all pet dander and hair.

Scotch-Brite makes a Carpet Touch Up Roller to pick up pet hair and dander from floor to ceiling. It can’t remove all dander, but it can reduce some of the offending proteins.

There are also medications to ease symptoms.

Antihistamines (over-the-counter and prescription) can aid with nose and eye symptoms, however some of these medications can make you sleepy and impair driving ability, Glaum says.

Prescription nasal sprays are effective for some people, but they need to be used consistently for maximal effect, he says. Over-the-counter nasal sprays may help with congestion, but they should be used with caution because they are potentially addictive.

“If symptoms of chest tightening and wheezing occur, this may represent a form of asthma that can be severe and potentially life-threatening,” Glaum warns. “Those [symptoms] can be treated with a combination of inhaled medications, but this condition should be promptly evaluated by your physician.”

If symptoms are severe and medications are not helping, allergy desensitization to pet dander from a board-certified allergist may help, Glaum says. This may involve immunotherapy - allergy shots - that can improve symptoms, but cannot eliminate them entirely.

Many people refer to poodles or Maltese as “hypoallergenic” breeds, but Glaum says there is no such thing.

“The reason is that major allergic proteins responsible for pet allergies are common to all members of a species [cats or dogs]. In some dog breeds, the protein may be in the dander, while others have it in the hair, but they all have it.”

Write to pet-lifestyle expert Kristen Levine at Fetching Communications, P.O. Box 222, Tarpon Springs, FL 34688; e-mail ; or fax to (727) 934-6451.