[Does the allergic child become sensitized to small domestic mammals (guinea pig, hamster, rabbit?)]

Our own works show among allergic children a frequency of sensitization of 30% to cats and of 17% to dogs. But, the proportion of sensitizations to other small domestic mammals such as guinea pigs, hamsters of rabbits seems to be unknown. Among atopic children with a known contact with those pets we noted: for guinea pig: 29% positive cutaneous or RAST tests 21% clinical signs in presence of animals; for hamster respectively 28% and 6.5%; for rabbit respectively 18% and 12.3%. Guinea pigs seem to be more sensitizing animals, followed by rabbits, then by hamsters. As for cats and dogs, eviction is imperative when a sensitization is demonstrated.