Pet ownership and associated respiratory diseases

Authors: Janahi, Ibrahim; Bener, Abdulbari; Abdul Wahab, Atiqa

Source: Aerobiologia, Volume 22, Number 4, December 2006 , pp. 305-311(7)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Studies have shown that pets are very important sensitizing agents in patients with asthma. Respiratory disorders and allergic diseases are common in the State of Qatar.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether exposure to pets and domestic animals plays a significant role in the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis among Qatari school children aged 6-14 years.

A cross-sectional prospective study.

Public schools for boys and girls in urban and semi-urban areas.

A total of 3,500 Qatari school boys and girls aged 6-14 years were approached. After exclusion of those who did not give consent for the study and incomplete questionnaires, 3,283 (98.3%) participants were included in the data analysis.

A multistage sampling technique was used and different schools from urban and semi-urban areas were selected. A standard questionnaire was distributed to parents of randomly selected school children aged 6-14 years between February 2003 and February 2004.

The overall prevalence of asthma was 19.8% and the mean age of the children was 9.0 ± 2.0 years. The male and female percentages were 52.3% and 47.7% respectively. Nine hundred and ninety-six families out of 3,283 (30.3%) owned pets. It was found that among children with no family history of asthma, the relative risk (RR) of asthma with pets at home was 1.19 and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.0-1.4 (P = 0.025). The RR of having allergic rhinitis was 1.60 (95% CI = 1.4-1.8; P < 0.001) and risk of having eczema was also significantly higher in participants with pets at home (RR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.1-1.5; P < 0.001).

In the present study, the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema was significantly more common in families with domestic animals than in those without.

Keywords: Pet ownership; Asthma; Allergic rhinitis; Eczema; Parental; School children; Qatar

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10453-006-9044-9

Affiliations: 1: Email: abener@hmc.org.qa

Publication date: 2006-12-01

Pet ownership and associated respiratory diseases

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