Canary Allergy: Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis - Expert Guide

Despite their small size, canaries can cause a great deal of problems for people who have a canary allergy. People with a canary allergy will probably find themselves allergic to most other birds as well.

Causes

• In most cases, canary dander and even the canary droppings act as allergens, rather than the canary itself.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of a canary allergy include sneezing, watery eyes, coughing and shortness of breath. The nose will probably also be stuffy.

Diagnosis

• The best way to diagnosis whether a person has an allergy to canaries is to see if the symptoms disappear when the affected person is away from the canary or away from the canary surroundings.

Treatment

• Treatment typically includes antihistamines, saline nasal sprays and from staying away from the canary.

Filtration Devices

• A filtration device in the room with the canary can sometimes help keep the dander down, relieving some of the allergy symptoms.