Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2019 Apr;7(2):99-105. 10.4168/aard.2019.7.2.99.

Indoor pet ownership in infancy is a risk factor for the development of sensitization to pets and asthma in childhood

• Jung S
• Noh SR
• Lee SY
• Yoon J
• Cho HJ
• Kim YH
• Suh DI
• Yang SI
• Kwon JW
• Jang GC
• Sun YH
• Woo SI
• Youn YS
• Park KS
• Lee E
• Cho HJ
• Kook MH
• Yi HR
• Chung HL
• Kim JH
• Kim HY
• Jung JA
• Woo HO
• Hong SJ

• KMID: 2444843
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2019.7.2.99

Abstract

PURPOSE
It is controversial whether indoor pet exposure is either a risk or protective factor developing sensitization to pet allergens or asthma. Therefore, we investigated whether indoor pet ownership entails a risk for the development of asthma and sensitization in childhood.
METHODS
The Panel Study of Korean Children (PSKC) is a general-population-based birth cohort study that recruited 2,078 mother-baby dyads in Korea between April and July of 2008. Among 1,577 children who were followed up in 2015, 559 underwent skin prick tests, spirometry and bronchial provocation tests using Provocholine. Having a cat or a dog and the prevalence of asthma were evaluated by using self-reported questionnaires and physicians' medical records.
RESULTS
During infancy, the rate of dog ownership was 4.5% (71 of 1,574) and that of cat ownership was 0.5% (8 of 1,574). Of the subjects, 7.9% (n=109) currently had at least 1 dog and 2.5% (n=34) had at least 1 cat. Pet ownership during infancy was associated with sensitization to cats or dogs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-13.98), wheezing within 12 months (aOR, 5.56; 95% CI, 1.65-18.75) and current asthma (wheezing episode in the last 12 months+diagnosed asthma by physicians) (aOR, 6.36; 95% CI, 1.54-26.28). In contrast, pet ownership during the last 12 months was not associated with sensitization to cats or dogs or current asthma.
CONCLUSION
Indoor pet exposure during infancy can be critical for developing sensitization to cats or dogs and asthma in childhood. Avoidance of pet exposure in early life may reduce sensitization to cats or dogs and development of asthma.

Keyword

Pets; Infant; Asthma; Allergens

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Animals
Asthma*
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Cats
Child
Cohort Studies
Dogs
Humans
Infant
Korea
Medical Records
Methacholine Chloride
Odds Ratio
Ownership*
Parturition
Pets
Prevalence
Protective Factors
Respiratory Sounds
Risk Factors*
Skin
Spirometry
Allergens
Methacholine Chloride

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Study population. PSKC, Panel Study of Korean Children; ISAAC, International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. *The rate of pet ownership from pregnancy to infancy was evaluated by a 2013 questionnaire. †2015 questionnaire was used to identify the baseline characteristics and confounders (sex, body mass index, preterm birth, possession of pet within the last 12 months, breastfeeding, secondhand smoke, parental allergic disease, history of bronchiolitis, and maternal education level).

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