Swedish study finds cats may not worsen childhood allergic asthma

A large-scale study conducted by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden suggests that living with cats does not appear to worsen allergic asthma in children. The research analyzed the largest cohort to date, involving 30,277 children aged 4 to 17 who had confirmed diagnoses of asthma and respiratory allergies.

Researchers examined clinical parameters including asthma exacerbations, severity, and lung function. The findings showed no significant difference between children exposed to cats and those who were not. Specifically, asthma exacerbations occurred in 3.3% of the exposed group compared to 3.5% of the non-exposed group. Additionally, moderate to severe asthma was observed in 9.6% of exposed children versus 10.1% of non-exposed children.

The study also found no correlation between the evolution of asthma and the number, age, or sex of the cats in the household. These results aim to provide clarity for families concerned about the impact of the Fel d 1 allergen, which is found in cat saliva.