Pet Ownership in the UAE: Its Effect on Allergy and Respiratory Symptoms

Abdulrazzaq, Yousef M.; Bener, Abdülbari; DeBuse, P

doi:10.3109/02770909509083232

Cited by 18 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Consistent with our findings, a study from Turkey reported that birds were the most commonly kept pets, followed by cats, fish, and dogs (31). A study from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) found the prevalence of any pet-keeping to be 40.7%, similar to our estimate of 42.8% (32). Moreover, the estimate of cat-keeping in our study (13.2%) was similar to that reported by the study conducted in the UAE (14.6%) (32).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Pet-Keeping in Relation to Asthma, Rhinitis, and Eczema Symptoms Among Adolescents in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study

AlShatti

Ziyab

2020

Front. Pediatr.

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Background: Findings on the associations between household pet-keeping and allergic diseases, including asthma, rhinitis, and eczema, have been contradictory, with investigations reporting positive, negative, and null associations. This study sought to estimate the prevalence of pet-keeping among families in Kuwait and to assess the associations between pet-keeping and symptoms of allergic diseases among adolescents. Methods: Schoolchildren aged 11-14 years (n = 3,864) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The children's parents completed questionnaires regarding their child's environmental exposures, including pet-keeping in the past 12 months, and clinical history and symptoms of allergic diseases. Associations were assessed using Poisson regression with robust variance estimation, and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Results: Pet-keeping in the past 12 months was reported by 42.8% of the participating families. Birds, cats, rabbits, fish, and dogs were kept by 28.3, 13.2, 7.8, 3.9, and 3.1% of all households, respectively. Current cat ownership was significantly associated with current wheezing (aPR 1.29, 95% CI 1.05-1.58), current rhinitis symptoms (aPR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.36), and ever doctor-diagnosed eczema (aPR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03-1.50). Current rabbit-keeping was positively associated with multiple symptoms of asthma (e.g., study-defined current asthma: aPR 1.38, 95% CI 1.04-1.82) and eczema (e.g., severe eczema: aPR 1.94, 95% CI 1.02-3.71). Similarly, current bird-keeping was associated with study-defined current rhinitis (aPR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.41) and current itchy rash (aPR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10-1.46). Conclusions: Household pet-keeping is very common and diverse in Kuwait and was found to be positively associated with symptoms of allergic diseases among adolescents. The findings of associations between rabbit-keeping and symptoms of asthma and eczema add to the existing literature and further highlight the importance of considering the pet type when assessing such associations.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Pet-Keeping in Relation to Asthma, Rhinitis, and Eczema Symptoms Among Adolescents in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study

AlShatti

Ziyab

2020

Front. Pediatr.

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“…5 On the other hand, findings from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey indicate that dog keeping in early childhood protects against adult atopy 6. A study of Swedish children revealed less asthma and allergic rhinitis in children who had a pet during their first year of life 7.…”

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confidence: 99%

Asthma and indoor environment in Nepal

Melsom

Brinch

Hessen

et al. 2001

Thorax

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Background-The development of asthma seems to be influenced by the adoption of a Western lifestyle. A study was undertaken to assess the importance of indoor environmental factors in Nepal where the lifestyle and home environment diVer from that in the West. Methods-The home environment of 121 schoolchildren with asthma and 126 controls aged 11-17 years was studied. The homes of all participants were investigated and the children and their mothers were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire. Cases and controls were identified from an ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood) based population study of 2330 schoolchildren in Kathmandu, Nepal. Results-Keeping cattle inside the house during the night was related to a lower risk for having asthma (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.2 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.5)) while there was no association between asthma and cattle kept outside. Asthma was associated with cigarette smoking by two or more family members (OR 1.9 (95% CI 1.0 to 3.9)) and with the domestic use of smoky fuels (OR 2.2 (95% CI 1.0 to 4.5)). In analyses stratified by sex, passive smoking and the use of smoky fuels were significantly associated with asthma only in boys. Conclusions-The risk of asthma in Nepalese children was lower in subjects exposed to cattle kept inside the house and higher in subjects exposed to passive smoking and indoor use of smoky fuels. Childhood exposure to microorganisms or allergens from cattle may protect against the development of atopic disease. (Thorax 2001;56:477-481) Keywords: asthma; domestic animals; smoky fuels; passive smoking; infection hypothesis; microbial stimulation Epidemiological studies suggest that the development of asthma may be influenced by the adoption of a Western lifestyle.1 2 The International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) showed a significant worldwide variation in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, with the highest prevalence in English speaking Western countries and the lowest prevalence in Eastern Europe and Asia. In the Western world diVerent populations may be exposed to risk factors for asthma in a similar way. Aetiological patterns may be more evident when comparisons are made between more diVerent cultures. A study was undertaken to assess the importance of indoor environmental factors potentially relevant for asthma in Nepal, a country where the lifestyle and home environment is diVerent from that in the West.Atopic diseases are reported to be more common in children exposed to animal dander than in those not exposed.4 5 On the other hand, findings from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey indicate that dog keeping in early childhood protects against adult atopy.6 A study of Swedish children revealed less asthma and allergic rhinitis in children who had a pet during their first year of life.7 Furthermore, recent studies of allergy in a farm environment provide evidence of less hay fever and asthma among children of farmers. [8][9][10] In Nepal a large proportion of the population are...

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“…The neighboring countries like the UAE have reported on the effect of pet ownership on allergy and respiratory symptoms (Abdulrazzaq, Bener, & DeBuse, 1995;Bener et al, 1993b;Bener, Galadari, & Naser, 1995). The risk of asthma in children with pets at home was found to be twice that of children without (RR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.40-2.95), compared with our result of (RR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.1-1.3).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Pet ownership and associated respiratory diseases

2006

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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.

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Pet Ownership in the UAE: Its Effect on Allergy and Respiratory Symptoms

Cited by 18 publications

References 30 publications

Pet-Keeping in Relation to Asthma, Rhinitis, and Eczema Symptoms Among Adolescents in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study

Pet-Keeping in Relation to Asthma, Rhinitis, and Eczema Symptoms Among Adolescents in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study

Asthma and indoor environment in Nepal

Pet ownership and associated respiratory diseases

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