Pets and atopic disorders in infancy

This population-based prospective study assessed the relationship between pets and atopic disorders in infancy. One or more pets were found in 61.4% of households. Pets were found in homes with a family member affected by asthma or rhinitis as often as in homes with no allergy in the family. The presence of pets was not shown to affect the development of atopic manifestations in the first 12 months of life. Infants exposed to cats developed skin prick test sensitivity to cat dander significantly more often (p = 0.01) than those infants who had had no such exposure.