Child allergies connected to pet exposure
Source: Agencies |
October 15, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LIFE with the family dog will give young children hours of loyal companionship, cherished memories and, in some cases, possibly better health.
A study in the Journal of Pediatrics says that children with a family history of °?allergies may be less likely to develop eczema, an allergic skin condition, if they live with a dog when they are younger than one year.
But living with a cat may increase those odds, though only in children who are sensitive to cat allergen - substances in saliva and urine.
"Given the complexity of the situation, it is hard to give parents specific advice about pets," said Tolly °?Epstein, an assistant professor at the °?University of Cincinnati °?College of Medicine in Ohio, who led the research team.
As far as eczema goes, studies have shown there is a consistent relationship among dog ownership and lower risk, she said. "It may be that these children develop a tolerance, but we don't know that for sure," Epstein added.
The study involved 636 children enrolled as infants in a long-term study of environmental exposures and allergy risk. All were considered to be at increased risk of allergies because they had a parent with a history of asthma, nasal allergies or eczema.
When the children were younger than one year, °?researchers visited their homes to collect dust samples.
The children also had annual tests, including a skin-prick exam to see whether they had become sensitized and their immune systems were producing antibodies after being exposed to allergens.
Overall, 14 percent of the children had eczema at age four. But that fell to 9 percent for the 184 children who had a dog in their home in infancy.
Of the 14 children who were sensitive to dog allergen and lived with a dog, only two developed eczema. That compared to 57 percent for dog-sensitive children who didn't have a dog at home during early life.
A study in the Journal of Pediatrics says that children with a family history of °?allergies may be less likely to develop eczema, an allergic skin condition, if they live with a dog when they are younger than one year.
But living with a cat may increase those odds, though only in children who are sensitive to cat allergen - substances in saliva and urine.
"Given the complexity of the situation, it is hard to give parents specific advice about pets," said Tolly °?Epstein, an assistant professor at the °?University of Cincinnati °?College of Medicine in Ohio, who led the research team.
As far as eczema goes, studies have shown there is a consistent relationship among dog ownership and lower risk, she said. "It may be that these children develop a tolerance, but we don't know that for sure," Epstein added.
The study involved 636 children enrolled as infants in a long-term study of environmental exposures and allergy risk. All were considered to be at increased risk of allergies because they had a parent with a history of asthma, nasal allergies or eczema.
When the children were younger than one year, °?researchers visited their homes to collect dust samples.
The children also had annual tests, including a skin-prick exam to see whether they had become sensitized and their immune systems were producing antibodies after being exposed to allergens.
Overall, 14 percent of the children had eczema at age four. But that fell to 9 percent for the 184 children who had a dog in their home in infancy.
Of the 14 children who were sensitive to dog allergen and lived with a dog, only two developed eczema. That compared to 57 percent for dog-sensitive children who didn't have a dog at home during early life.
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