Asthma is one of the leading causes of hospitalization in children and the most common chronic disease, with a global prevalence reaching 9.1 percent. For years, pet dander has been considered one of the triggering factors for asthma attacks in clinical practice. However, a new, large-scale study published in the journal Frontiers in Allergy challenges this long-held belief.
Researchers from Sweden’s Karolinska Institute analyzed data from more than 30,200 children with asthma and allergies. The 24-month observation, based on data from the Swedish National Cat Registry and national health databases, showed that living with a cat does not worsen the progression of the disease in children.
According to the study’s authors, the markers of asthma severity, exacerbation episodes, and lung function were practically identical between children living in cat-owning and non-owning households. For instance, moderate-to-severe forms of the disease were recorded in 9.6 percent of children exposed to cats, compared to 10.1 percent in the pet-free group. Asthma exacerbation episodes occurred in 3.3% of those with pet exposure and 3.5% of those without.
Scientists explain this by the fact that cat allergens are widespread in outdoor environments, including schools and public transportation. Consequently, children who do not have pets at home are still continuously exposed to these allergens, which neutralizes the statistical difference.
Although slight misclassifications in the data may exist due to the novelty of the national registry, this objective clinical finding represents a significant step forward in pediatric allergology and provides additional evidence to re-evaluate the risks associated with pet exposure.
