The surprising health benefit of having a pet dog when you are a child
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How having a pet dog can alter some children’s immune systems
- A new study indicates that children genetically predisposed to eczema may benefit from having a pet dog at home due to a potential protective effect against the skin condition.
- Researchers examined data on 280,000 people and found that early exposure to dogs could reduce the likelihood of developing eczema in children with a specific genetic variation.
- The study identified a link between early dog exposure and a variation in genetic code near the interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) protein, which is involved in immune cell function and inflammation.
- Experts suggest that the IL-7R protein may be a target for future eczema treatments or prevention strategies, potentially allowing intervention in the rise of allergic diseases.
- Academics caution that the study did not examine the impact of dog exposure on existing eczema and that introducing a dog could worsen symptoms in some children.