Dear Doctor,

We have dogs at home but every time I get in contact with them I get a skin rush yet everyone else remains normal. Why is this so and is there any cure for such reactions?

Bonitah, Kigali

Dear Bonitah,

Dogs make adorable pets and very loyal guards. But they can also cause some health problems. The body of a dog is different from that of a human being and is very hairy. One can have allergy to the fur of a dog, which manifest as asthma, cold and skin rash. Paws of dogs can have many infectious microbes. Somebody in close contact with a dog can get infected by these germs.

Skin rashes can occur due to ascaris and other parasites due to allergy. There is also susceptibility to develop scabies and skin infection due to ticks present on a dog’s body. These can also cause rashes along with itching.

Why you are getting it and no other family member depends on susceptibility to allergy. This tends to run in families. You may have inherited the susceptibility from someone among your blood relatives.

Prevention is the best way to avoid such allergy. Avoid close physical contact with the dog. It is vital to prevent the dog using the same space you use, that is, sitting on chairs, beds and sofas, among others. The dog’s hair or fur tends to be shed and stick on the surface of the place wherever it sits. They may be small and not clearly visible. But still their presence can provoke allergy, manifesting as skin rashes. Maintain good hygiene, that is, after handling the dog or cleaning its kennel, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.

It is also important to keep the dog very clean. It should be bathed and combed regularly and ticks should be removed very regularly.

Some dog owners also give antihelmenthic treatment to their pets on a regular basis. See to it that the dog does not get in contact with street dogs as it can acquire skin diseases from them and infect the owners.

Treatment of rashes consists of using anti allergy and corticoid ointments for a week or so till they clear. In severe cases, anti allergy and corticoid tablets can be used. Avoid scratching the itchy part to avoid secondary bacterial infection.

Dr Rachna Pande  is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital