Having a pet requires time, money and love in order to give the animal a good and safe life. In return you get a lot of love and great memories. There is a reason why the dog is known as man’s best friend. If you consider getting a pet, getting a dog is highly recommended – especially if you plan on having kids.
A recent, large study from Copenhagen Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) discovered that the more dogs in the home, the smaller the risk of developing eczema.
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common long-term and recurring skin condition. More than 20 percent of children below the age of seven suffer from eczema, and it has become increasingly common over the past 30 years in the Western part of the world. The condition most frequently develops within the first year of a child’s life (50%) or before the age of seven.
The symptoms of eczema include red and itchy skin, especially inside the bend of knees, and in infants on cheeks and chin. In addition, there is an increased risk of being infected with Staphylococcus aureus. As eczema is chronic, it will often persist into adulthood. Here, it will often occur on hands and in between fingers and you will often have dry, patchy eczema on the face, neck and upper part of the body as well as in the scalp.
Dogs - yes please!
In the recent Danish study, researchers from COPSAC have examined two large groups (cohorts) consisting of Danish families with common characteristics to find the causes of asthma and related conditions such as eczema. Before, during and after the birth of the children, researchers monitored the children closely. They examined their blood, stools, airways etc. regularly and the families filled out questionnaires regarding the environment of their homes. Among other questions, the families were asked whether there was a dog in the home.
The two independent cohorts from 2000 and 2010 respectively showed a considerably reduced risk of developing eczema when there was a dog in the home. However, this difference was only significant in the cohort from 2010 if the mother had asthma. It is possible that the effect already occurs while the child is still in the mother’s womb.
Fear of bacteria – no thanks!
The cause of eczema remains unknown, but one hypothesis is the so-called hygiene hypothesis. Here it is believed that children will develop a stronger immune system if they are exposed to bacteria early in life. Thus, this result supports the hygiene hypothesis, as dogs, which are highly unsanitary because they put their noses in all kinds of places, carry bacteria beneficial to a child’s immune system. The mechanisms behind the protective effect remain unclear, but it could fit into this hygiene hypothesis.
It might not be so bad if you don’t have time to vacuum or dust even if you planned to do so, because if we disinfect our surroundings too much, we end up killing the beneficial bacteria as well. We need these bacteria to maintain a healthy, well-functioning immune system.
References:
1. http://videnskab.dk/krop-sundhed/hunde-i-hjemmet-forebygger-boerneeksem
2. http://www.apoteket.dk/Sygdomsleksikon/SygdommeEgenproduktion/Atopisk%20eksem.aspx
