Jessye Large – Pet Allergy

Pet allergies begin with allergens that are found on certain animals. In this podcast, the allergen was released by a cat that Hannah recently adopted. This allergen then enters the host’s body and causes a type one hypersensitivity reaction. This type of reaction occurs in two phases, the first being sensitization, followed by effector. In sensitization the allergen is detected and “killed” through phagocytosis by an antigen presenting cells (APC). The APC then presents a portion of the allergen on its MHC II. A helper T cell will detect the presented allergen and binds to the APC by the epitope. The T cell now needs to be activated through a 2-step signal process that involves the release of B7 and C28 proteins. The activated T cell then releases interleukin 4 and 3 which then activate the humoral response. B cells respond by differentiating into plasma cells which are able to release IgE antibodies. IgE antibodies are specific antibodies that can detect and attack the pet allergen which occurs in the effector phase. The IgE are now bound to mast cells (sensitization) and the next time the allergen presents in the host, these mast cells are equipped to start an inflammatory response immediately upon detection. Mast cells are highly abundant in the respiratory tract which is why during subsequent exposures, respiratory symptoms such as a scratchy throat, sneezing, watery eyes and mucus build up. The release of histamine is the chemical mediator mainly responsible for these symptoms. The most simple way to diagnose a pet allergy is by exposing the individual to a small amount of the allergen through a small needle poke and seeing if there is a reaction. This diagnostic is called a skin prick test and can be done for many different allergens. You can also have a blood test done to check immunoglobulin levels and because IgE is released in response to this pet allergy, if levels are high, an allergy may be present. The quickest treatment would be removing the allergen therefore removing the cat. If that is not possible, pharmaceuticals such as antihistamines, corticosteroids, decongestants and more can be used to reduce symptoms. You can also do allergen immunotherapy if nothing else is working. This is a slow process that involves exposing the allergen over time in increasing amounts. This will encourage the body to produce anti-inflammatory cytokines and regulate T helper cells.

The only gap in content for me was the beginning and the end. A potential addition for this podcast could be adding a broader introduction, conclusion or both to summarize the topic. Providing the listener with information that sets them up for what is to come is a beneficial way to initiate active listening. It would allow for a better understanding on the topic and act as a cushion of knowledge to fall back on if I were to get confused during the detailed portion of the pathophysiology. On the other end, a conclusion would help summarize the information that was just provided. As a nursing student, more information on how I could take this knowledge and utilize it in a practice setting would be a helpful way to conclude this podcast. The details and process provided throughout was extremely well done and easy to follow so the “gap” of no solid introduction and conclusion to the topic wasn’t a huge hindering factor. There was a small introduction into the case study however what I feel could have been added is some information on pet allergies as a whole. Maybe some facts to get engaged and understand the importance of this information. With the time limit, I feel the time was well used and obviously adding information would result in going over the time limit so for me this feedback is all only hypothetical if there were no time limit and would simply be an addition of content rather than a change.

The use of a real-life example really supported my learning throughout the podcast. Having Hannah as someone with lived experience therefore the ability to ask meaningful questions made it easier to follow. Hannah did an excellent job of asking the exact question that I, as the listener, was wondering at that moment. It gave a good balance between having an expert explanation and having someone like Hannah who would repeat back what she was being told in a simpler, more relatable way. Incorporating “myth-busting” was beneficial as well as it again made it easy to reflect my own prior beliefs. I felt that highlighting myths, such as hypoallergenic pets, and explaining why this isn’t true made me more engaged in the content. It raised my curiosity on the subject as I was not aware that this was a myth and therefore I was more eager to listen to the content in hopes of getting an explanation, which I did. Pathophysiology for anything can be a complex process to explain so grabbing the audience’s attention through giving them something to ponder on while they listen was beneficial. Being able to hear Hannahs responses throughout the podcast helped me as a listener understand how common it is for people to be misinformed and how it can delay the process in seeking treatment. I would also like to mention the ad was a very creative way to transition from diagnostics into treatments. Although I am a nursing student myself, I feel this podcast could be easily understood by someone with no background knowledge due to the personal aspect that Hannah brings.

The information in this podcast flowed very nicely and the transitions were seamless in my opinion. The only thing I can think of that would enhance my learning about this topic would be including different types of pet allergies. Using a case study with a specific example of a cat allergy was an excellent way to explain the pathophysiological process that occurs, however, giving a few facts of other pet allergens could have enhanced the content even further. Incorporating what other types of pets are common for people to be allergic to and comparison of the symptoms are some ideas for a more thorough explanation of pet allergies as a whole. As well as explain if different pet allergens have different pathophysiological mechanisms or if different ones are more severe than others and why. An interesting thing I discovered when looking into this was that cat allergies are more common and more severe than dog allergies. This is because cat allergens are much smaller and lighter than dog allergens therefore they have the ability to be airborne for longer and increase the chance of exposure. I want to reiterate that I think this podcast explained hypersensitivity type 1 reaction, symptoms, diagnostics and treatments very well and grew my knowledge on the subject matter which is why my only suggestion is providing an extra tidbit of knowledge surrounding pet allergies as a whole, outside of the example of the cat. This extra information would be good content to add an introduction and/or conclusion as I discussed in question 2.

In my practice, I will definitely take all the knowledge I have gained about hypersensitivity type 1 reactions and apply it accordingly. Understanding allergic reactions are very crucial in practice as it is a preventable, manageable but potentially dangerous presentation. A specific piece I want to highlight in my practice is treatment. Discovering you have pet allergies can be very emotionally damaging considering people can become attached to their pet in a short period of time. People also may be inclined to brush off the allergic symptoms they are feeling to avoid the possibility of losing their pet. With the proper knowledge, I can help educate these patients to ensure they understand that being exposed to an allergen constantly will have negative consequences in the long run. Understanding all the different non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments will allow me to better advocate for my patients when it comes to treatment options as well. Although the easiest option would be to remove the pet from the home, some people may not be willing to get rid of their pet, just as Hannah displayed in the podcast. As a nurse, being able to suggest other options such as washing hands thoroughly, washing the pet, cleaning the home, allowing ventilation in the home and more can be very beneficial for individuals who hope to keep their pet. As well as having the knowledge of pharmaceutical options for symptoms management can allow me to better advocate for these medications to be prescribed to my patients or simply recommend the ones you can purchase at the drugstore without a prescription. Being able to explain the allergen immunotherapy option will help people struggling to find something that relieves their symptoms and can promptly begin this treatment if desired as positive outcomes some time occur. All of this knowledge helps to know that it is possible for people to live with their beloved pet even if an allergy is present, it just takes the proper interventions to reduce symptoms and ensure the persistent allergen doesn’t progress into further issues such as asthma. Formatting the information as a real life case study allowed me to better reflect back to how I can use this knowledge in my practice.