title: Association between pet-keeping and asthma in school children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of pet exposure in childhood asthma and allergy is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between pet-keeping during different periods of childhood and asthma and sensitization in school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-nine children aged between 7 and 14 years were enrolled in this study. Seventy-four children had current physician-diagnosed asthma, while 75 children did not have asthma. Pet-keeping was investigated by questionnaire. Allergic sensitization to pet allergen was assessed on skin prick tests and specific serum IgE concentration. Logistic regression analysis was performed, taking into account potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early, past and current pet-keeping was not significantly associated with asthma. Neither owning a cat nor dog during childhood was associated with asthma. Early pet-keeping, however, was significantly associated with sensitization to pet allergens (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 24.11; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.28-177.27). Further analysis showed that only early cat-keeping was significantly associated with sensitization to cat allergen (aOR, 51.59; 95%CI: 2.28-1167.07). Keeping a cat or a dog after the first year of life was not associated with sensitization to those allergens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Keeping a cat or a dog does not increase risk for asthma. Keeping a cat in the first year of life, however, increases risk of sensitization to cat allergen. Considering that this is a relatively small study, larger, prospective, birth cohort studies are required in Serbia to accurately assess the relationship between pet-keeping, asthma and sensitization.
authors: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, University Children's Hospital, Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. medjo.biljana@gmail.com
authors: Biljana
authors: B
authors: Medjo
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Atanaskovic-Markovic
authors: Dimitrije
authors: D
authors: Nikolic
authors: Brankica
authors: B
authors: Spasojevic-Dimitrijeva
authors: Petar
authors: P
authors: Ivanovski
authors: Slobodanka
authors: S
authors: Djukic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D057805:Pets / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055771:Serbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens