Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pet allergy trends and symptoms in allergic rhinitis patients
By Zhang, Xu et al.·Published in International archives of allergy and immunology·2025·Department of Allergy, China·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Trends and Clinical Features of Pet Sensitization of Allergic Rhinitis from 2017 to 2023 in Beijing, China.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A recent study found that cats and dogs are significant sources of allergens that can cause allergic rhinitis (AR) in people, especially children and teenagers. Over the past seven years, more patients have shown sensitivity to pet allergens, with 26.6% reacting to cats and 13.7% to dogs. Those who are allergic to cats tend to experience more severe symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, and itchy eyes, and they also have a higher risk of developing asthma. If you notice your child has these symptoms around pets, it may be worth discussing with your veterinarian or doctor.
People also search for: cat allergies in children · dog allergies symptoms · allergic rhinitis treatment for pets
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Cats and dogs, as most common domestic pets, are an important source of indoor airborne allergens that can cause allergic rhinitis (AR) and other allergic diseases. This study aimed to determine the trends of sensitization of pets in recent years and disease severity in AR patients sensitized to pet's allergens. METHODS: This was a retrospective study, which examined 48,199 patients who were first diagnosed AR at the Department of Allergy of Beijing Tongren Hospital from January 2017 to December 2023. Patients completed a standardized questionnaire asking for the presence of allergic symptoms and also underwent serum specific immunoglobulin E with common indoor and outdoor aeroallergens. RESULTS: This study found pets are the second most common indoor allergen in AR patients, with cat (26.6%) and dog (13.7%). The trend of sensitization to cats and dogs has shown a yearly increase from 2017 to 2023, and children and adolescent are the most susceptible to pet sensitization. Compared to other indoor allergens, sensitize to cat showed significant severe allergic symptoms, including nasal congestion, runny nose, and itchy eyes. The risk of asthma was increased by sensitization of cat (p < 0.001, OR = 1.63) and dog (p < 0.001, OR = 1.54). CONCLUSION: Cats and dogs are important and common indoor allergens in AR, especially in children and adolescents, which have gradually increased over the past 7 years. Cat sensitization may lead to more severe AR symptoms and increase the risk of comorbid asthma.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40300568/