Bronchial asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in children. In recent years, the prevalence rate of asthma in all countries in the world has shown an obvious upward trend. According to incomplete statistics, the prevalence rate of childhood asthma in Beijing rose from 0.78% to 2.06% in the 10 years from 1990 to 2000, an increase of 1.6 times. In 2010, the third national epidemiological survey of urban childhood asthma was carried out in 43 cities in China, and the report pointed out that domestic pets were the unique risk factors for asthma in children ≤ 3 years old [1].
Is it how’s relationship between domestic pets and childhood asthma, whether they should be [close] or [close] to pets?
Does keeping pets increase the risk of asthma in children?
At present, it is still controversial whether domestic pets have harmful or protective effects on the occurrence of asthma in children. In 2001, an analysis study [2] integrating the results of many years of international research pointed out: Domestic pets have protective effect on the occurrence of asthma-like symptoms in preschool children (< 6 years old), but for children over 6 years old, domestic pets will increase the risk of asthma.
The protective effect of domestic pets on children’s asthma can be explained by hygiene hypothesis: exposure to microbial substances (such as endotoxin level in the environment) in early life can produce antibodies that inhibit immunoglobulin IgE, thus reducing the risk of asthma.
However, this does not mean that it is absolutely safe to contact pets in infancy, because some studies have also pointed out that contact with cats in infancy is a risk factor for asthma symptoms in children aged 6-7, while the current exposure of pet dogs is a risk factor for asthma in adolescents.
The allergen is not [fur]
Many people take it for granted that allergy to pets is allergy to pets’ fur. In fact, it is not. The allergen inducing allergic asthma is not pet fur, but the allergen carried by fur.
Different animals produce different allergens: the allergen produced by cats is mainly Feld 1, which mainly exists in saliva and sebaceous glands of cats; Canf 1 is the main allergen produced by dogs, which exists in dandruff, saliva, urine and serum. Dandruff and secretions of pets will increase the content of corresponding allergens in the air, thus inducing the occurrence of allergic respiratory diseases such as asthma [3].
It is often manifested as sudden chest tightness, shortness of breath and cough after contacting pets. Sometimes wheezing sounds (whistle and flute sounds with musical characteristics generated during breathing) can be heard. The light ones can improve after disengaging from contact, while the heavy ones may endanger their lives.
What is the key?
1. The more intimate, the more dangerous it is.
The closer children are in contact with pets, the more likely they are to develop asthma. Some studies have shown [4] that the prevalence rate of asthma in children who sleep with pets at night is significantly higher than that in children who do not sleep with pets.
A survey conducted in urban and rural areas of Wuhan [5] shows that, The impact of domestic pet dogs on asthma in rural children is not obvious, because unlike the living environment in cities, dogs are generally not allowed to enter the bedroom but only to move in the yard in rural areas, thus reducing the chance of close contact between pets and children, thus showing no harm to asthma in children.
2. Cats and dogs are different,
Different pet types have different effects on children’s asthma. Keeping pet cats, dogs and poultry pets will increase the risk of children’s asthma, while the effects of other types of pets on children’s asthma are not statistically significant.
The allergen Feld 1 produced by cats is buoyant and sticky, This means that it is easy to remain in the air. Even if the cat is sent away, the allergen it produces can still remain indoors for 6 to 9 months. Cats’ allergens can adhere to clothes, follow children to kindergartens or schools, and even cause asthma in others.
What if you already have pets?
Pets are not impossible to keep, because children who are allergic to pets are, after all, a few. If you already have pets, experts from the Companion Animal Research Information Center suggest:
(1) Try not to let pets into the bedroom;
(2) Try not to let pet hair contaminate furniture;
(3) Often use vacuum cleaner to clean the room and keep the room clean;
(4) Comb pets’ hair regularly (preferably outdoors) to reduce the amount of hair shed indoors;
(5) Bathe pets regularly.