Abstract
M.Tech.
Cat allergy is the allergic reaction of a person’s body when exposed to allergens borne in the cat’s dander (shed skin cells), saliva or urine. The major cat allergen, called Fel d 1, is found in cat saliva, dander from sebaceous glands in the skin, fur and anal sebaceous glands. Symptoms of cat allergies may include sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, coughing and wheezing and in rare circumstances anaphylaxis occurs.
The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the homoeopathic complex Cat hair 9cH and Histaminum 9cH in treating the symptoms of cat allergy using the skin prick test and a symptom score card which rates the severity, frequency and duration of symptoms experienced.
This was a four-week double blind, placebo-controlled study in which thirty participants, male and female between the ages of 18 and 45 were randomly divided into two groups. Advertisements was placed at the University of Johannesburg Doornfontein campus and at the Weleda pharmacy (Fourways). Potential participants that meet the inclusion criteria were requested to sign the Participant Information and Consent Form. This study had to form part of a group study related to cat allergy analysis. Participants were requested to report to Ampath laboratories to undergo a skin prick test to establish the presence of a cat allergy. Those participants that tested positive for cat allergies were to undergo an initial consultation involving a case history and a focused physical examination. Participants were given a score card each week to evaluate their severity, frequency and duration of their symptoms to be completed at the end of each week. Participants were given a 25ml bottle of either the homoeopathic complex of Cat hair 9cH and Histaminum 9cH or the placebo in tablet form, and each participant was instructed to take two tablets twice daily throughout the four week study. At the second consultation the physical exam was repeated and a second bottle of medication were given. At the end of week four, participants had to report to Ampath laboratories for the final skin prick test. This was to be followed by the third and final consultation, where the physical examination was done and all score cards collected. All data will be analysed using the Shapiro Wilk test, Mann-Whitney test, Friedman test and Wilcoxon test. With the aid of results from each participant the researcher arrived at the conclusion that the homoeopathic complex Histaminum 9cH and Cat Hair 9cH was effective on alleviating the symptoms of cat allergy.