Owning a cat could increase the risk of eczema in children already predisposed to developing the disease, according to a study published in the journal Public Library of Science Medicine. Analyzes of 379 Danish children and 503 English children reveal that genetic factors associated with eczema may make children more susceptible to environmental factors such as the presence of a feline.Filagrin is a protein found in the skin, supposed to act as a barrier against hazardous substances present in the environment.
However, a mutation in the filagrin gene would double the risk of developing eczema during the baby’s first year. The risk would be even more increased when children affected by this mutation are put in contact with a cat at the time of birth.
However, the presence of a cat has no negative effect in children not predisposed to develop this skin disease, remind the authors, for whom further research is needed.
On the contrary, other studies point out that the presence of a domestic animal – dog or cat – during childhood reduces the risk of allergies when growing up, by developing the immune system.
