We must ban household pets for children at risk for atopy: Pro

A better definition of phenotypes would result in better targeting of prevention and treatment objectives. Primary prevention aims to prevent the onset of sensitization in healthy children, especially in those at risk for atopic diseases; secondary prevention aims to prevent the onset of asthma and the acquisition of new sensitizations in previously sensitized children. The concept of the effect of a protective pet remains controversial because the findings have not been duplicated in all studies. Moreover, some studies suggest that exposure to pets promotes allergic disease. Such a protective effect may be influenced by multiple factors, including the type of pet, the timing and intensity of exposure, and genetic factors. Nevertheless, the results of studies on allergen avoidance for primary prevention are insufficient to allow us to reach a definitive conclusion. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.