Adults who own cats are more likely to experience allergies.
A large European study found that adults who own a cat for the first time have twice the risk of developing allergies, especially if the cat is allowed in the bedroom; however, those who have owned a cat as children have a lower risk of developing cat allergies as adults.
Professor Mario Olivieri of the University of Verona in Italy collected data and blood allergy tests from a nine-year asthma study. The participants were aged 20-44 and had never previously experienced asthma.Allergic to cats6,292 participants were tested again nine years later.
Of these participants, more than 10% later owned pets, and nearly 4% became allergic to cats, especially after allowing cats into the bedroom, which exacerbated the allergy.
However, people who have owned cats as children are less likely to develop cat allergies when they own another cat as adults compared to those who own a cat for the first time as adults. "Although both are exposed to high concentrations of allergens (cats), the effects seem to change with age," Olivieri said.
Researchers warn that allowing children to own cats may prevent them from developing cat allergies, but parents should be careful that they themselves may also develop allergies.allergy。
