Pets reduce allergy risks

10/Oct/2006: A new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, has found that pets actually reduce the allergy risks in humans by training our immune system to be less reactive to allergy triggers.

Off late, a number of studies have found that children exposed to pets like dogs or cats, early in their life, are less likely to develop allergies and asthma, later.

The findings of this study contradict the general perception in the society that keeping our homes pet-free can reduce allergy risks. However, other factors like genetics play an important role in determining the allergy risks in humans and families, which are genetically resistant to allergies can, opt for a pet-free home.

Researchers analyzed data of 9,812 European adults, who took part in a nine-year respiratory health study, to understand the link between pets and allergy risks. Participants in this study had earlier answered about their childhood allergies, asthma symptoms and exposure to pets throughout their lives. The researchers found that people who grew up in families with pets, rarely developed allergies or asthma in their childhood.

But the case was different in families, which had a history of asthma or allergies, as participants from such families, developed asthma or allergies, irrespective of whether they had a pet or not.

Dr. Cecilie Svanes of the University of Bergen in Norway, who led this study, said that people who had pets before developing respiratory problems, prefer the take medication rather than getting rid of their beloved pet.

Like many other previous studies, this one too found that pet owners had a lower risk of allergies, about a third less than their pet-free peers. However, the study failed to establish the reason behind the ‘pet avoidance’ behavior in allergy sufferers. Even though pets can cut allergy risks, it is better for those people who are allergic to pet dander or hair, to stay away from pets.

Talk about this topic on the forums
http://www.clipp.org/cgi-local/dcforum/dcboard.cgi