Bird allergy
Allergy to bird feathers and droppings.
About bird allergy
Bird allergy is an IgE-mediated response to proteins found in feather dust, dried droppings and the fine powder shed from a bird's plumage, rather than to the feathers themselves. Pet parrots, budgerigars, cockatiels and pigeons are the usual sources. The particles are very light, so they drift through the air and settle on furniture, clothing and skin, lingering long after the bird has left the room. The same dusts are also linked to a separate, non-allergic lung condition sometimes called bird fancier's lung, which is distinct from ordinary allergy.
Most people notice symptoms within minutes to hours of contact: an itchy, runny or blocked nose, sneezing and red, watering eyes. In susceptible individuals, exposure can trigger asthma symptoms or worsen eczema. Because the dust travels easily, reactions may appear simply from being in a room where birds are kept, without handling them. Such reactions are usually uncomfortable rather than dangerous.
Diagnosis is generally confirmed with a skin-prick test or a blood test for specific IgE, interpreted alongside your history. Rehoming the bird is most effective, though often unwelcome; where that is not chosen, keeping birds out of bedrooms, good ventilation and HEPA filtration, careful cage cleaning and washing hands all help. Medicines can ease symptoms, and immunotherapy is considered in selected cases. See your GP if symptoms persist or if you have any breathing difficulty.
Common triggers
- Bird and products containing it
Symptoms
- Sneezing and a runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Skin redness where the animal licked or touched
- Coughing or wheezing
- Worsening of asthma
Avoidance & management
- Limit contact with the animal
- Keep pets out of bedrooms
- Wash hands and clothes after contact
- Use air filtration and vacuum often
- Take prescribed antihistamines
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.