Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2018 Mar;10(2):155-164. 10.4168/aair.2018.10.2.155.

Dog and Cat Allergies and Allergen Avoidance Measures in Korean Adult Pet Owners Who Participated in a Pet Exhibition

• Yang MS
• Lee SP
• Kwon YJ
• Lee SM

• KMID: 2402975
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2018.10.2.155

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study evaluated dog and cat allergies and their association with allergen avoidance measures in Korean adults.
METHODS
The study population consisted of 537 adults who currently kept dogs or cats and participated in a pet exhibition in Korea. The subjects were asked to complete questionnaires regarding pet ownership, allergen avoidance, and allergy symptoms, and underwent skin prick tests. They were considered to have a dog or cat allergy if they suffered from one or more of allergy symptoms during contact with their pets.
RESULTS
In total, 103 of 407 dog owners (25.3%) and 45 of 130 cat owners (34.6%) had a dog or cat allergy, respectively. Dog owners kept 1.3±1.5 dogs; this number did not differ according to the presence of dog allergy. Dog owners with a dog allergy had owned their dogs longer than those without (88.0±72.0 vs 67.5±72.7 months, P < 0.05). Cat owners kept 2.1±3.6 cats; this number did not differ according to the presence of cat allergy, nor did the duration of cat ownership. Cat owners with a cat allergy had facial contact and slept with their cats less frequently (8.6±11.9 vs 18.3±27.0 times/day, P < 0.01; 71.1% vs 81.2%, P < 0.05); however, they had their cats shaved and beds cleaned less frequently than those without (1.8±3.3 vs 3.2±4.4 times/year, P < 0.05; 1.5±1.5 vs 3.9±6.0 times/month, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Cat owners with a cat allergy tried to minimize contact with their cats, but efforts to avoid indoor cat allergens were lower than those without. In comparison, dog owners with a dog allergy had kept their dogs for longer time than those without; however, current contact with their dogs and allergen avoidance measures did not differ between the 2 groups.

Keyword

Dogs; cats; allergy

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Allergens
Animals
Cats*
Dogs*
Humans
Hypersensitivity*
Korea
Ownership
Skin
Allergens

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Participant flowchart. Informed consent was obtained from 654 subjects who visited our survey booth. Among them, 44 dropped out because they owned pets other than a dog or cat, and 54 because they owned both dogs and cats. A total of 556 subjects were asked to respond to questionnaires regarding their dog or cat ownership and dog or cat allergy. They also underwent SPTs for dog, cat, and other indoor inhalant allergens. After the SPT, 19 dropped out due to dermographism. Thus, the final analysis was performed on 537 subjects. SPT, skin prick test.

• 

  Fig. 2 The prevalence of dog and cat allergy according to breed. (A) Dog allergy. (B) Cat allergy.

• 

  Fig. 3 The use of medical services for pet allergy and recognition of AIT in subjects with a dog or cat allergy. AIT, allergy immunotherapy.

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