The Primary Prevention of Atopy: Does Early Exposure to Cats and Dogs Prevent the Development of Allergy and Asthma in Children? A Comprehensive Analysis of the Literature
Cristiana Indolfi,
Elisabetta D’Addio,
Chiara Lucia Bencivenga,
Giulio Rivetti,
Irene Bettini,
Amelia Licari,
Sara Manti,
Francesca Mori,
Michele Miraglia del Giudice,
Angela Klain
Affiliations
Cristiana Indolfi
Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Elisabetta D’Addio
Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Chiara Lucia Bencivenga
Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Giulio Rivetti
Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Irene Bettini
Specialty School of Pediatrics, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Amelia Licari
Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic, and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Sara Manti
Pediatric Unit, Department of Human and Pediatric Pathology “Gaetano Barresi”, AOUP G. Martino, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98124 Messina, Italy
Francesca Mori
Allergy Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 50139 Florence, Italy
Michele Miraglia del Giudice
Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Angela Klain
Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
The current literature shows mixed results relating to the significance of environmental exposure, such as owning a pet, and the development of atopy in children. Our review aimed to collect the most recent evidence on the association between early-life cat and dog ownership and the development of allergy and asthma. A comprehensive literature review was performed using PubMed and Scopus. The search included the main keywords of our PICO: (((early exposure) AND (children) AND (allergy)) OR (asthma)) AND (dog) OR (cat). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case–control studies, clinical trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews of children within the last five years (2018–2023) were searched and included. During the search process, 52 articles from PubMed and 43 from Scopus were found. A total of 17 articles were deemed to be suitable and included. Fairly consistent results regarding early exposure to pets, in particular dogs, and the prevention of food allergies have been described. Furthermore, there seems to be a protective effect against allergy and asthma in relation to the number of pets owned. The likelihood of a child developing allergy and asthma seems to be influenced by various factors, including the child’s genetic background and early exposure to different environmental factors, including allergens that may interact with the gut microbiota and immune system.
