Living with cats does not worsen asthma in children, suggests study

Asthma is the most common chronic disease and one of the main causes of hospitalization among children. The Global Asthma Network has estimated that its global prevalence is 9.1% for children and 11.0% for adolescents, but this percentage varies greatly among countries, regions and environments. Worldwide, the highest prevalence of pediatric asthma—above 20%—occurs in the British Isles and in parts of Oceania and the Middle East. Known risk factors for developing asthma include exposure to air pollution and smoking, childhood viral infections, obesity, and pre-existing allergies such as eczema or hay fever.