Large study: cats and dogs protect children from allergies

Katja Fischer

15.4.2023

Translation: machine translated

People who grow up with dogs or cats have fewer food allergies. The protection even starts during pregnancy. This is the result of a Japanese survey with data from over 65,000 children.

Your child really wants a dog or a cat, but you don't? Sorry, your basis for argumentation is getting a lot thinner at this point. Or the other way round: this article will give your offspring new ammunition for a pet.

A large-scale study from Japan with data from more than 65,000 children now shows how significantly keeping dogs and cats can reduce food allergies. Even from an early age: three-year-olds who had contact with these pets were on average 15 per cent less likely to suffer from an allergy than those without dogs or cats - regardless of whether the animals were kept indoors or outdoors. What is particularly interesting is that protection starts in the womb if the pregnant mother has a cat or dog in the household. It is not yet clear exactly how the animals keep the allergies away.

The study breaks down the results further: According to it, children who have frequent contact with dogs are less likely to have egg, milk and nut allergies. In contrast, children with cats were found to have fewer intolerances to eggs, wheat and soya.

Immune system continues to learn later

These results support the well-known "farm effect": Those who grow up on a farm have far fewer immune system overreactions - in other words, fewer allergies. This is because the immune system comes into contact with various microorganisms, such as those found in animal fur or mud, at an early age.

However, the desire for a pet usually only arises around the age of five to seven. Does it still help the immune system? Yes, it learns every day, says Erika von Mutius, Professor of Paediatric Allergology at the University of Munich, to the "Tages-Anzeiger". "But of course it's too late if the allergy is already there."

Good news for children with a fervent desire for pets. Rather bad news if you have so far successfully resisted an animal Family members. But we won't let you down: do you need new defence tactics? Editorial colleague Martin recently put some together:

Katja Fischer

Senior Editor

Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.ch

Mom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.