Задание 16 из ЕГЭ по английскому языку: задача 8

Allergic to Cats?

Cat allergy can be very heartbreaking to a cat lover. Sneezing, tearing eyes, runny nose, sinus headache, skin rash, and other symptoms can be mild and annoying or severe and life threatening. In reality, if the symptoms are very severe and the cause is tested and found to be cats, finding the cat a new home might turn out to be the only solution. However, if the symptoms are moderate or mild, there is hope! There are methods to at least minimize the discomforts of allergies and live with a cat.

Symptoms may be at their worst when grooming the cat, cleaning the litterbox, vacuuming or dusting. They may also be apparent on awakening in the morning if you cat sleeps with you. These symptoms may occur with any allergy, however, so it is highly recommended that testing be done to determine the cause of the allergy and whether the allergen causing the problem is indeed the cat. It may not be the cat at all, but the litter you are using, dust particles cling to the cat.

If you are using a specific brand of litter for your cat, try switching brands and washing the cat with a shampoo you KNOW you aren’t allergic to. Many people are allergic to the different kinds of perfumes and deodorizers some brands of litter and shampoo.

Unfortunately, some doctors assume an allergy is a cat allergy if their patient has a cat and has allergic dermatitis or conjunctivitis or asthma. However, this is not always the case and only allergy tests can tell for sure.

Allergies are caused by allergens. The most likely allergen found in cats is in the sebum and is a protein called Fel d 1. Sebum comes from the cat’s sebaceous glands. These are found under the skin and are primarily located around the base of the tail. It is believed that these aid in keeping proper skin and coat condition.

This sebum dries and flakes into tiny particles that are similar in size to that of aerosol droplets. Because these particles are so small they can adhere to pretty much anything including, carpet, furniture, walls and clothes. They can easily be moved from one location to the next and are often found in all environments including schools, doctor’s offices and homes that don’t have cats. Fel d 1 can remain in the environment for months and even years after the cat is removed.

There is no scientific data at all to support the concept that one breed is less allergic than another. Researchers studying ways to reduce cat allergenicity found some cats consistently shed lower levels of allergen. Unfortunately, there’s no practical way to identify these “hypoallergenic” cats in advance. But an even more important allergy predictor is hormones. It turns out male cats shed substantially greater amounts of allergen than females. The reason why people can acquire a new pet and not experience any of these symptoms until much later is due to the time required to produce these antibodies. It can take anywhere from three weeks to three years.

What things can help treat or minimize symptoms in daily life? Have someone else vacuum the house. Also it may be helpful to have a vacuum with a special filter and by using bags that are extra thick and designed for those that suffer from allergies. Since 1/3 of our life is spent sleeping, keeping the cat out of the bedroom can help excessive exposure. An air filtration system will reduce the amount of allergen recirculated. Treat your other allergies. Few individuals are allergic only to cats. By controlling your allergies to pollens, molds and house dust, their tolerance for cats may improve significantly.

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Cats’ allergens ...

1. can be found only in homes with cats.
2. remain active for a very long time.
3. don’t move from one location to the other.
4. cannot stick to different surfaces.