Pet ownership and associated respiratory diseases

Abstract

Background 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. Objective 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. Design A cross-sectional prospective study. Setting Public schools for boys and girls in urban and semi-urban areas. Subjects 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. Methods A multistage sampling technique was used and different schools from urban and semiurban 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. Results 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). Conclusion 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.

The association between airborne pollen monitoring and sensitization in the hot desert climate

“…However, no aerobiology data were reported using volumetric samplers. Additionally, an accumulating body of evidence indicates that both, lifestyle factors in Qatar and environmental exposure, may play particularly important roles in the occurrence of respiratory symptoms as reported in a study showing a significant relationship between pet ownership and respiratory allergy [16 ]. Urbanization, pollution, and possibly imported plants that are factors arising from lifestyle changes may potentially have an impact on humans health and maintaining a healthy ecosystem [17 ].…”

Frequency of complications and the effects of pneumococcal vaccination in young children with acute respiratory tract infection

“…The mean interval between admission and the follow-up visit was 23 ± 13 days, median [interquartile range]: 19 [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] days. Overall, complications were detected in 79 (19%; 95% CI: 15-23%) patients and this frequency was similar among children aged under 1 year or 1 year and above (17.3% vs. 21.5%; p = 0.3).…”

“…b The denominator was not 79 because there was missing information. [20]. Patients with rhinitis have nasal inflammation, and Eustachian tube dysfunction, which lead to increased negative pressure in the middle ear and improper ventilation, with enhanced nasal protein transudation.…”