BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 28 (UPI) -- More than half the current asthma cases in the United States can be attributed to allergies, a government report said.
The National Institute of Health study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, also found approximately 30 percent of those cases were attributed to cat allergy.
While sensitization to cats may be a strong risk factor for asthma, other research shows that exposure to cats, particularly early in life, may be a protective factor, said study co-author Dr. Darryl Zeldin of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md.
"We are not advocating parents get rid of pets, but if you suspect that you or your child might have cat allergies or get asthmatic-like symptoms, you should consult with a physician," Zeldin said.
The researchers looked at skin tests for 10 allergens, but only three were independently and positively associated with asthma. Cat allergens accounted for 29 percent of the asthma cases, followed by the fungus Alternaria at 21 percent and white oak at 21 percent.
"This study tells us that allergy is a major factor in asthma," said study co-author Dr. Peter Gergen of the NIH. "But this study also tells us is that there are many people who get asthma who don’t have allergies."
