Kids Breathe Better with Dog in the House
Having a dog in the home can help ward off infections in very young infants, possibly by hastening immune system development, researchers suggested.
During the first year of life, children living with dogs were generally healthier (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.52, P<0.001) and were less likely to have frequent ear infections (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.81, P=0.002), according to Eija Bergroth, MD, of Kuopio University Hospital in Kuopio, Finland, and colleagues.
In addition, they typically were treated with fewer courses of antibiotics for otitis (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.96, P=0.03) compared to children without contact, the researchers reported in the August Pediatrics online.
Previous studies concerning the presence of animals in the home and childhood immunity have had conflicting results, with some suggesting that living with dogs can have favorable effects, while others found an increased risk for respiratory infections in children with pets.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/GeneralPediatrics/33659?
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