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JACI Highlights - May 2007
Chen et al - Longitudinal study on cat allergen exposure and the development of allergy in young children
The influence of cat allergen exposure in early childhood on the subsequent development of sensitization and allergic disease is complex and controversial. In the May 2007 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Chen and colleagues from GSF National research Centre for Environment and Health investigate the association between exposure to cats in infancy and childhood and the development of cat sensitization and allergic diseases in over 2,000 children in a German birth cohort followed to age 6 years. The authors found that, contrary to earlier thought, keeping a cat as a pet is not protective against development of cat allergy. High cat exposure during infancy significantly increased the risk of cat sensitization at age 2 years but the effect was lost by age 6 years. Cumulative allergen exposure from cat ownership and regular cat contact during childhood increased the risk of cat sensitization at age 6.
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