Indoor pet ownership in infancy is a risk factor for the development of sensitization to pets and asthma in childhood
- Author:
Sungsu JUNG
1
;
Soo Ran NOH
;
So Yeon LEE
;
Jisun YOON
;
Hyun Ju CHO
;
Young Ho KIM
;
Dong In SUH
;
Song I YANG
;
Ji won KWON
;
Gwang Cheon JANG
;
Yong Han SUN
;
Sung Il WOO
;
You Sook YOUN
;
Kang Seo PARK
;
Eun LEE
;
Hwa Jin CHO
;
Myung Hee KOOK
;
Hye Ryoung YI
;
Hai Lee CHUNG
;
Ja Hyeong KIM
;
Hyung Young KIM
;
Jin A JUNG
;
Hyang Ok WOO
;
Soo Jong HONG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Pets; Infant; Asthma; Allergens
- MeSH: 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
- From:Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease 2019;7(2):99-105
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- 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.
