The results of a joint research project between the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital show that keeping a dog may help children prevent eczema, while keeping a cat is the opposite. The data related to this finding were taken from the Cincinnati Children's allergy and air pollution research project, involving 636 children whose parents have a history of allergy and therefore belong to an allergy prone group.
The subjects were followed up from infancy to determine the impact of particles in the environment on children's respiratory health and the association between particles and allergies. When the children were less than one year old, the researchers went to their homes to collect dust samples. From the age of 1 to 4, children receive an allergy test once a year, involving 17 allergens, including food, pollen, fungi and diesel particles. After the test, parents fill out a child's illness and allergy questionnaire.
Uurijad leidsid, et 14 protsendil katsealustest oli ekseem enne 4-aastaseks saamist, võrreldes 9 protsendiga 184 lapsest, kellel oli imikueas koer. Koerte suhtes allergiliste laste seas oli imikueas koertega tihedalt kokku puutunud laste osakaal 14 protsenti ja koertega mitte kokku puutunud laste osakaal 57 protsenti.
Ajakirja American Journal of Pediatrics viimases numbris avaldatud tulemused ei leidnud selget seost imikueas kasside kodus hoidmise ja ekseemiriski vahel. Kui aga lapsed on kasside suhtes allergilised, tundub, et kasside kodus pidamine tekitab lastel ekseemi.
Kassidele allergilistest lastest oli enne 4. eluaastat ekseem 54 protsendil neist, kellel oli kodus kasse kodus, ja 33 protsendil neist, kellel kodus kasse kodus polnud. Laste osakaal , kellel on kodus kassid , kuid kes ei ole kassi suhtes allergilised , on 11 protsenti .
Reuters quoted Terry, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati School of medicine who led the study, on the 14th? Epstein's words reported: "children who are allergic to dogs but have never had a dog at home are four times more likely to develop eczema... Children who have had cats at home before the age of 1 and are allergic to cats are 13 times more likely to develop eczema before the age of 4... Having cats does not increase the risk of eczema for children who are not allergic to cats".
Epstein said: "there are more and more children suffering from allergic eczema, and the reason is unclear. Our research shows that early life contact with dogs may prevent eczema in people prone to allergies."
Uuring keskendus ainult ekseemile ja ei hõlmanud muid haigusi, nagu astma. Lisaks olid uuringus osalejad lapsed, kelle vanematel oli anamneesis allergia ja kes ei puudutanud lemmikloomade ja tavaliste laste ekseemi vahelist seost. Seos lemmikloomade ja ekseemi vahel on keeruline, ütles Epstein. Ekseemi puhul on aga mitmed uuringud näidanud, et koera pidamine on seotud ekseemiriski vähendamisega.
