Longitudinal study on cat allergen exposure and the development of allergy in young children.
BACKGROUND
The influence of cat allergen exposure in early childhood on the development of sensitization and allergic diseases is complex. Little is known about the natural course of the sensitization development within individuals.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated the association between cat allergen exposure in infancy and cat ownership and cat contact during childhood and the development of cat sensitization and allergic diseases up to age 6 years using a longitudinal analysis approach.


METHODS
Overall, 2166 children from an ongoing birth cohort study were included in the analysis. House dust samples were collected 3 months after birth. Cat allergen levels were extracted. Blood samples were collected when the children were 2 and 6 years old. Information on the allergic symptoms of children and doctor-diagnosed allergic disease were collected at each follow-up using questionnaires.


RESULTS
Cat allergen exposure in infancy was positively associated with sensitization at age 2 years but not at age 6 years. No associations existed between cat allergen exposure in infancy and allergic symptoms and diseases up to age 6 years. Cumulative allergen exposure from cat ownership and regular cat contact increased the risk of cat sensitization up to age 6 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Cat allergen exposure in infancy increases the risk of sensitization development in early childhood but not in school-age children. Cumulative allergen exposure from cat ownership and regular cat contact during childhood contribute to sensitization development up to school age.


CONCLUSIONS
Cat allergen avoidance at home alone might be not effective to prevent the development of allergic sensitization in young children.
Chen
Chih-Mei
CM
GSF-National Research Centre for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany.
Rzehak
Peter
P
Zutavern
Anne
A
Fahlbusch
Bärbel
B
Bischof
Wolfgang
W
Herbarth
Olf
O
Borte
Michael
M
Lehmann
Irina
I
Behrendt
Heidrun
H
Krämer
Ursula
U
Wichmann
H-Erich
HE
Heinrich
Joachim
J
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004391:Dust; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test
D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust