We have stressed several times that living with a dog can be very useful for children. Now two new studies say that the benefits a dog can offer to little ones include a lower risk of developing childhood eczema and a reduction in asthma symptoms.
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That living with a dog can be very useful for i children we have emphasized this several times. Now two new studies say that the benefits a dog can offer to little ones include a lower risk of developing childhood eczema and a reduction in asthma symptoms.
Sweet, faithful, playful, affectionate, the "best friends of man" are confirmed day after day as a precious resource in our homes and even science has repeatedly identified the beneficial effects of animals on our health.
In the past it was mistakenly believed that dogs could increase the risk of allergies and other problems especially in children. All this has now been overcome and many researches on the contrary have shown the advantages of living with these animals at home, even some of them have underlined the beneficial effects of the relationship with dogs starting from the mother's belly.
Two new research on the subject, presented by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) during the annual meeting held in Boston, found that contact with infant dogs can protect against eczema. and reduce asthma symptoms.
Dogs reduce the risk of childhood eczema
The first study, conducted by an ACAAI research team led by Dr Gagandeep Cheema, investigated how exposure to dogs before birth can positively influence the risk of childhood eczema. Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a condition characterized by dry, itchy rashes and patches of skin that appear most frequently on the hands, feet and face, as well as on the elbows and behind the knees.
The exact causes of eczema remain unclear but experts agree that the condition can occur when the immune system reacts in response to certain allergens or irritants.
The research team evaluated the exposure and coexistence with a dog of a number of expectant mothers. Women were advised to keep a dog inside their home for at least 1 hour every day. It was thus found that children born to mothers who had come into contact with this animal during pregnancy were less likely to develop eczema at the age of 2, compared to children whose mothers did not associate with dogs.
However, the study revealed that by the time the children reached the age of 10, the protective effects of prenatal dog exposure had diminished.
Dogs reduce asthma symptoms in children
In the second study, whose lead author is Dr. Po-Yang Tsou, it was examined how contacts with dogs in childhood are related to the lower severity of asthma in children. The team evaluated the effects of two types of dog exposure: exposure to the protein that triggers a reaction in children allergic to these animals and exposure to certain particles, particularly bacteria, that a dog might carry.
The researchers found that children who were exposed to bacteria and other particles from a dog experienced a reduction in asthma symptoms. However, dog allergen exposure remains a major concern for children who are hypersensitive to this animal.
On the benefits of dogs for children read also:
- 10 GREAT REASONS TO GROW CHILDREN IN THE COMPANY OF PETS
- HOW A DOG IMPROVES THE HEALTH OF THE WHOLE FAMILY. THE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES THAT CONFIRM IT
- HEALTHIER (AND BEAUTIFUL) CHILDREN WITH DOGS AND CATS IN THE HOUSE!
While the premises are very good, further studies are needed to confirm whether exposure to dogs before and after birth can really help protect against eczema and asthma in childhood. In the meantime, let's enjoy our animals, sure that the benefits are manifold!
