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Pets and the development of allergic sensitization
Angela Simpson1, Adnan Custovic
1North West Lung Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK. asimpson@fs1.with.man.ac.uk
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports
|April 22, 2005
Summary
Pet ownership may influence allergy development. While cat ownership shows mixed results on sensitization, dog ownership appears protective against developing allergies to dogs and general allergic sensitization.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pet ownership is a known factor in allergic diseases like asthma and rhinitis.
- Sensitization to pets can occur even without direct ownership.
- Community exposure to pet allergens can induce sensitization in non-owners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent studies on the relationship between pet ownership and allergic sensitization.
- To investigate the impact of owning specific pets (cats, dogs) on developing allergies to those pets and general allergic sensitization.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent scientific literature.
- Analysis of studies examining pet ownership, pet-specific sensitization, and general allergic sensitization.
Main Results:
- Studies on cat ownership yield inconsistent findings regarding sensitization risk.
- Dog ownership is generally associated with no effect or a protective effect against dog-specific and general allergic sensitization.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between pet ownership and allergic sensitization is complex and pet-specific.
- Dog ownership may offer protection against developing allergies, while the effect of cat ownership remains uncertain.