Pet Ownership in the UAE: Its Effect on Allergy and Respiratory Symptoms Export

@article{citeulike:3226086, abstract = {The aim of this paper was to study the effect of pets and other domestic animals on bronchial asthma among United Arab Emirates (UAE) schoolchildren aged 6-14 years. A cross-sectional study of 850 schoolchildren living in both urban and rural areas (average age 9.36 ± 2.11 years, 46.8\% boys and 53.2\% girls) was conducted using self-administered questionnaires between October 1992 and May 1993. Prevalence rate for asthma, rhinitis, wheeze, cough, and eczema in children from families with and without animals were investigated. A total of 40.7\% of families studied were found to keep animals in their homes. Children from families with animals were found to have a significantly higher prevalence rate of respiratory symptoms than those without. The prevalence rate for asthma in children with animals was found to be twice that of children without (RR: 2.03; 95\% CI: 1.40–2.95). The risk of having chronic cough (RR: 1.93; 95\% CI: 1.21–3.10), breathlessness/chest tightness (RR: 2.53; 95\% CI: 1.59–4.02), chronic wheeze (RR: 2.10; 95\% CI: 1.20–3.67), allergic rhinitis (RR: 1.53; 95\% CI: 1.17–2.00) was significantly higher in children with animals than in children without. Similarly, the risk of having eczema (RR: 2.55; 95\%, CI: 1.74–3.75) was significantly higher among children with animals than among those without. Overall, there was a highly statistically significant difference in the prevalence of asthma, wheeze, nocturnal cough, eczema, and rhinitis between children in families with animals and those without (<i>p</i> \&lt; 0.0001). It is concluded that unlike what is alleged to be known, a large proportion of the national population (40.7\%) kept animals at home, and that was an important aggravating factor, which should be considered in the management of asthma in the UAE.}, author = {Abdulrazzaq, Y. M. and Bener, A. and Debuse, P.}, citeulike-article-id = {3226086}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/02770909509083232}, doi = {10.3109/02770909509083232}, journal = {Journal of Asthma}, keywords = {air, ambient, uae}, number = {2}, pages = {117--124}, posted-at = {2008-09-11 19:06:57}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Informa Healthcare}, title = {Pet Ownership in the UAE: Its Effect on Allergy and Respiratory Symptoms}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/02770909509083232}, volume = {32}, year = {1995} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:3226086 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3226086 N2 - The aim of this paper was to study the effect of pets and other domestic animals on bronchial asthma among United Arab Emirates (UAE) schoolchildren aged 6-14 years. A cross-sectional study of 850 schoolchildren living in both urban and rural areas (average age 9.36 ± 2.11 years, 46.8% boys and 53.2% girls) was conducted using self-administered questionnaires between October 1992 and May 1993. Prevalence rate for asthma, rhinitis, wheeze, cough, and eczema in children from families with and without animals were investigated. A total of 40.7% of families studied were found to keep animals in their homes. Children from families with animals were found to have a significantly higher prevalence rate of respiratory symptoms than those without. The prevalence rate for asthma in children with animals was found to be twice that of children without (RR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.40–2.95). The risk of having chronic cough (RR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.21–3.10), breathlessness/chest tightness (RR: 2.53; 95% CI: 1.59–4.02), chronic wheeze (RR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.20–3.67), allergic rhinitis (RR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.17–2.00) was significantly higher in children with animals than in children without. Similarly, the risk of having eczema (RR: 2.55; 95%, CI: 1.74–3.75) was significantly higher among children with animals than among those without. Overall, there was a highly statistically significant difference in the prevalence of asthma, wheeze, nocturnal cough, eczema, and rhinitis between children in families with animals and those without (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001). It is concluded that unlike what is alleged to be known, a large proportion of the national population (40.7%) kept animals at home, and that was an important aggravating factor, which should be considered in the management of asthma in the UAE. IS - 2 JF - Journal of Asthma EP - 124 TI - Pet Ownership in the UAE: Its Effect on Allergy and Respiratory Symptoms PB - Informa Healthcare VL - 32 SP - 117 KW - air KW - ambient KW - uae AU - Abdulrazzaq, YM AU - Bener, A AU - Debuse, P PY - 1995/// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/02770909509083232 ER -