Perinatal Cat and Dog Exposure and the Risk of Asthma and Allergy in the Urban Environment: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies

Background. The literature is contradictory concerning pet exposure and the risk of development of asthma and other allergic diseases. Using longitudinal studies, we aimed to systematically review the impact of pet ownership in the critical perinatal period as a risk factor for allergies in childhoo...

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Main Authors: Caroline J. Lodge, Katrina J. Allen, Adrian J. Lowe, David J. Hill, Cliff S. Hosking, Michael J. Abramson, Shyamali C. Dharmage
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Clinical and Developmental Immunology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/176484
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author Caroline J. Lodge
Katrina J. Allen
Adrian J. Lowe
David J. Hill
Cliff S. Hosking
Michael J. Abramson
Shyamali C. Dharmage
author_facet Caroline J. Lodge
Katrina J. Allen
Adrian J. Lowe
David J. Hill
Cliff S. Hosking
Michael J. Abramson
Shyamali C. Dharmage
author_sort Caroline J. Lodge
collection DOAJ
description Background. The literature is contradictory concerning pet exposure and the risk of development of asthma and other allergic diseases. Using longitudinal studies, we aimed to systematically review the impact of pet ownership in the critical perinatal period as a risk factor for allergies in childhood. Methods. Medline database was searched for urban cohort studies with perinatal exposure to cats and/or dogs and subsequent asthma or allergic disease. Results. Nine articles, comprising 6498 participants, met inclusion criteria. Six found a reduction in allergic disease associated with perinatal exposure to dogs or, cats or dogs. One study found no association. Two found increased risk only in high-risk groups. Conclusion. Longitudinal studies in urban populations suggest that perinatal pets, especially dogs, may reduce the development of allergic disease in those without a family history of allergy. Other unmeasured factors such as pet-keeping choices in allergic families may be confounding the association seen in these high-risk families, and further study is required.
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series Clinical and Developmental Immunology
spelling doaj-art-c53a64176c404f42b4510b3ef73b31512025-02-03T01:09:39ZengWileyClinical and Developmental Immunology1740-25221740-25302012-01-01201210.1155/2012/176484176484Perinatal Cat and Dog Exposure and the Risk of Asthma and Allergy in the Urban Environment: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal StudiesCaroline J. Lodge0Katrina J. Allen1Adrian J. Lowe2David J. Hill3Cliff S. Hosking4Michael J. Abramson5Shyamali C. Dharmage6Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic 3010, AustraliaMurdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic 3052, AustraliaCentre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic 3010, AustraliaMurdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Vic 3052, AustraliaJohn Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle, NSW 2305, AustraliaDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Vic 3004, AustraliaCentre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic and Analytic Epidemiology, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic 3010, AustraliaBackground. The literature is contradictory concerning pet exposure and the risk of development of asthma and other allergic diseases. Using longitudinal studies, we aimed to systematically review the impact of pet ownership in the critical perinatal period as a risk factor for allergies in childhood. Methods. Medline database was searched for urban cohort studies with perinatal exposure to cats and/or dogs and subsequent asthma or allergic disease. Results. Nine articles, comprising 6498 participants, met inclusion criteria. Six found a reduction in allergic disease associated with perinatal exposure to dogs or, cats or dogs. One study found no association. Two found increased risk only in high-risk groups. Conclusion. Longitudinal studies in urban populations suggest that perinatal pets, especially dogs, may reduce the development of allergic disease in those without a family history of allergy. Other unmeasured factors such as pet-keeping choices in allergic families may be confounding the association seen in these high-risk families, and further study is required.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/176484
spellingShingle Caroline J. Lodge
Katrina J. Allen
Adrian J. Lowe
David J. Hill
Cliff S. Hosking
Michael J. Abramson
Shyamali C. Dharmage
Perinatal Cat and Dog Exposure and the Risk of Asthma and Allergy in the Urban Environment: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
Clinical and Developmental Immunology
title Perinatal Cat and Dog Exposure and the Risk of Asthma and Allergy in the Urban Environment: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
title_full Perinatal Cat and Dog Exposure and the Risk of Asthma and Allergy in the Urban Environment: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
title_fullStr Perinatal Cat and Dog Exposure and the Risk of Asthma and Allergy in the Urban Environment: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
title_full_unstemmed Perinatal Cat and Dog Exposure and the Risk of Asthma and Allergy in the Urban Environment: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
title_short Perinatal Cat and Dog Exposure and the Risk of Asthma and Allergy in the Urban Environment: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies
title_sort perinatal cat and dog exposure and the risk of asthma and allergy in the urban environment a systematic review of longitudinal studies
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/176484
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