Babies have lower risk of developing asthma if they grow up around dogs
Babies who are exposed to dogs have better lung function, study says
- New research from The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada suggests that babies exposed to dog allergens may have a reduced risk of developing asthma by the age of five.
- The study, which involved 1,050 children, found that infants with higher exposure to dog allergens had approximately a 48 percent lower risk of asthma and better lung function.
- This protective effect was even stronger for babies who were at a higher genetic risk of worse lung function.
- Exposure to cat allergens or endotoxin did not demonstrate the same protective impact against asthma.
- Researchers propose that early exposure to dog allergens could prevent sensitization, potentially by altering the nasal microbiome or immune system, though further investigation is needed.