The earliest symptoms are usually nasal stuffiness, a "runny" nose, sneezing, red, irritated eyes, and sometimes rashes. Skin reactions include hives at the site of contact with animal urine or dander. Skin reactions may also be the result of a scratch. An itchy, reddened rash may occur under protective clothing as a result of a respiratory exposure to laboratory animal allergens. After a period of time (often several months, but occasionally many years), workers may become sensitized such that they develop symptoms when exposed even to tiny amounts of the allergen.
Symptoms that suggest the worker is developing asthma include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Symptoms may continue for several hours or longer even after exposure to the animals ceases and may also subside and then recur three or four hours following the exposure. A worker who has developed asthma symptoms from animal allergies often improves or recovers completely if he or she immediately stops being exposed to animal allergens. However, the longer the exposures continue, the more likely the asthma will persist, even after all contact with animals has stopped. In these sensitized persons, asthma is sometimes triggered by exercise, exposure to cold air, dust particles, strong odors or other agents. A life-threatening systemic reaction known as anaphylaxis occurs infrequently in sensitized individuals, usually after an animal bite or puncture with a needle contaminated with animal proteins (such as blood). Anaphylaxis is manifested by a severe, acute asthma attack, shock, and distress with generalized itching, hives, swelling of the lips, eyes, and/or extremities. Anaphylaxis may be fatal if emergency treatment, including epinephrine injections, is not given immediately. People at elevated risk should speak to their campus occupational medical service about being prescribed an epi-pen to have available in the event of an emergency.
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