Babies have lower risk of developing asthma if they grow up around dogs
New research, dogs growing around dogs are less likely to develop asthma.
A study by a team of hospitals for sick children in Canada found that young children who were exposed to dog allergens in their homes were lower than the age of five years, but the exposure to cat allergens did not have the same protective effect.
The risk of developing asthma development was about 48 percent lower than five -year -old infants exposed to a higher level of dog allergen. It also had a better lung function. For babies with higher genetic lung function, the protective effect was even stronger.
Scientists analyzed the samples of dust from the homes of 1,050 children, part of the Canadian Child Cohort work. For each child, researchers measured three potential allergens in dust: F1, a protein spilled in dog skin and saliva, f1, cat skin and saliva, fel D1, as well as a molecule – endotoxin on the surface of bacteria.
There was no protective effect for infants exposed to cat allergen or endotoxine.
These children were later evaluated by a doctor in terms of asthma at the age of five; Lung functions were measured depending on how much air explode in a second after taking a deep breath. It was also evaluated for allergies through genetic risk factors and blood samples for asthma.
Researchers, who are ready to present their work at the European Respiratory Association Congress in Amsterdam, said that interior allergens are an important risk factor that can change potentially to reduce asthma.
Speaking in front of the Congress, Dr Jacob McCoy said, “Asthma is a very common chronic respiratory disease in children, has the highest rates in the first four years of life. Genetic factors and environment are caused by complex interactions, including infections, allergies and air pollution.
“Children spend most of their time inside, so we wanted to examine the allergens at home. These are an important risk factor that we can potentially change to reduce asthma.”
Although DR McCoy is uncertain why exposure to dog allergens improves lung function, when a person becomes sensitive to dog allergens that can worse astma.
“This suggests that early exposure to dog allergens can prevent sensitivity by changing the nasal microbiome – a mixture of microbes living in the nose – or by creating an effect on the immune system,” he continued. “Our findings emphasize the potential protective role of dog allergens, but we need to do more research to understand the connection between early childhood exposure to dog allergens, lung function and asthma in early childhood.”
Dr. Erol Gaillard, President of the Pediatric Asthma and Allergy Specialist Group of the European Respiratory Association, said that allergies and associate professors at the University of Leicester, which is not included in the research, said that this is a good news for families with a domestic dog, but it should be known more about how to live with PETs in the long run.
“Asthma is the most common long -term situation among children and young people, and is also one of the main reasons for children to be hospitalized for emergency treatment. Although there are good treatments that can reduce or stop asthma symptoms, we want to reduce risk factors to prevent asthma.
“This study shows that babies growing around dogs may be lower. This is potentially good news for families with domestic dogs, but we need to know more about how children living with children affect the long -term lungs.”
