But behind these misleading headlines is an important new study about the effect pet exposure may have on infants. As reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (August 28, 2002), researchers studied 474 healthy, full-term infants in suburban Detroit with and without pets in their homes and monitored them through age 7.

Using skin prick and blood tests, the researchers found that children exposed to two or more cats or dogs in the first year of life were 75 percent less likely to develop allergies by age 6 than kids with no pets. High degrees of pet exposure during the first year, they concluded, reduces a child’s risk of developing allergies to numerous triggers including pets, dust mites, ragweed, grasses, pollens, and molds.

Dennis Ownby, M.D., the study’s lead author, isn’t sure why pet exposure seems to have this effect on kids. "There are several competing theories. But we think that it’s because the presence of pets in the home increases a child’s exposure to a lot of common bacteria, and this influences how their immune systems develop in such a way that they’re much less likely to have allergies later in childhood," he says.

So what should parents take away from this study? Should expectant mothers run out and buy new pets? Will Rover keep your son from sneezing? Unfortunately there are no easy answers; no one solution is perfect for everyone. Always talk with your physician or allergist before making any hasty decisions about a pet.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) warns that people of all ages who are already allergic to pets should minimize their exposure or avoid pets entirely. Buying a new pet or increasing the number of pets you have won’t reverse existing allergies - it will only make symptoms worse.

Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, may help increase your tolerance to pets and decrease sneezing and wheezing. An allergist injects small amounts of pet allergen under your skin on a weekly basis. As your body becomes desensitized to the allergen, symptoms should begin to improve. Don’t expect a quick fix, however; most people receive injections for months before noticing improvements.

Dr. Ownby notes that more studies are needed before researchers can conclude that pet exposure offers any long-lasting allergy protection. But this latest study - along with other ongoing research - is an important piece of the puzzle as physicians learn to understand and possibly prevent allergies and asthma in the future.

Reprinted from THE MA REPORT newsletter, October 2002.