How cats, cockroaches may cut asthma risk for kids
Kids living in houses with cats, mice and cockroaches may have a lower risk of asthma, new research from Washington University shows.
The researchers looked at 442 kids living in the inner cities of St. Louis, Baltimore, Boston and New York City. They analyzed dust taken from the kids’ homes to measure the concentrations of cockroach, mouse and cat allergens.
They found that higher levels of the allergens during infancy were associated with a lower risk of developing childhood asthma, a lung disease marked by inflammation in the airways.
The kids’ umbilical cord blood was also analyzed, and researchers found that those who had been exposed to tobacco smoke in utero had a higher risk of asthma. Higher asthma rates were also related to moms who reported higher levels of stress and depression.
“This study suggests we may not be focusing on the right targets for preventing asthma in the inner city,” said co-author Dr. Leonard Bacharier, a Washington University asthma specialist, in a statement.
“We may not need to worry about making sure the household environment is maximally clean — in fact, it’s possible that could be counterproductive. But helping women manage the challenges of mental health may make a difference.”
Since the study is based on observations, it cannot prove that any pet or pests can prevent or cause asthma. It merely suggests a potential link.
The research was published Friday in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. It was funded by the federal government and also included researchers at Boston University, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, U.C. San Francisco and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The children in the study had at least one parent with asthma or allergies so they were at higher risk of developing the disease.
Nearly one-third of the children were diagnosed with asthma by age 7.
Cockroach allergens were found to be most protective against asthma, with mouse and cat allergens also showing a benefit.