“I Have No Allergies”… Why Is my Child’s Asthma Getting Worse?
Parents of children with asthma who don’t test positive for pet allergies may be unknowingly contributing to worsening symptoms, according to a new study. Researchers at the National Institute of Health and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency have found that even without a diagnosed pet allergy, exposure to dogs or cats can exacerbate hidden inflammation and worsen asthma in pediatric patients.
The findings, released November 27th, are based on a joint study tracking 975 children aged 5 to 15 with asthma. Researchers analyzed pet ownership, allergy status, lung function, levels of hidden inflammation, hospitalization history (over the past 12 months), and asthma severity, monitoring patients at the study’s start, and again at 6 and 12 months.
The study revealed that among children with allergic asthma, those who lived with pets showed consistently higher levels of hidden inflammation compared to those without pets – a trend that persisted for at least six months. These children also experienced more frequent hospitalizations in the year prior to the study and demonstrated lower lung function.
Crucially, the research indicated that even children with non-allergic asthma experienced more severe asthma symptoms when living with pets. This suggests that factors beyond a simple allergic reaction – such as pet dander, saliva, excrement, dust, and bacteria – can collectively trigger airway inflammation.
While the difference in inflammation levels between pet owners and non-pet owners appeared to lessen after 12 months, researchers cautioned against drawing firm conclusions. They noted that seasonal changes, lifestyle adjustments, treatment modifications, and varying levels of pet contact could all have influenced the results, necessitating further long-term investigation.
“We have confirmed with data from several hospitals that contact with pets can effect the inflammatory response and the severity of the disease even if there is no pet allergy,” stated the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
National Institute of Health Director Kim Won-ho emphasized the importance of these findings for parents. “Even if you are not allergic to pets,you need to be careful because raising pets can worsen hidden inflammation in allergic asthma patients and worsen their asthma.”
the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is planning to release “Pet Allergy Prevention and Management Rules” next month to provide guidance on minimizing allergy-related asthma triggers associated with pet ownership.
(Reporter Lee Hwi-bin vinyvin@nongmin.com)
