Abstract

Background Data suggesting history of direct or indirect contact to cats are either protective, has no effect or increase risk of sensitization and asthma development.
Objective To determine the relationship between childhood contact to cat and the development of asthma in children.
Methods A case control study was conducted in Denpasar since December 2006 until Juli 2008. In this study, subjects with asthma (cases group) were selected for comparisons to a series of healthy subjects without asthma (controls group). Forty-seven subjects (3-12 years) with asthma were recruited and matched (age and sex) with 47 healthy and non asthma controls. Data were collected using two kinds of questionnaires, i.e: ISAAC, ATS 78, and Robertson modification questionnaire from Medical School, University of Indonesia, which had been validated to determine asthma and asthma risk factors questionnaire. Data were analyzed as univariate by using chi-square or Fisher’s exact test, and multivariate analysis by stepwise logistic regression model.
Results Result of univariate analysis showed that there were seven significant risk factors of asthma. Uusing multivariate analysis, contact to cat was significant risk factor for asthma [OR: 4.5 (95% CI 1.3 to 16.0), P= 0.020]. Other significant risk factors were; contact to cockroach [OR: 11.7 (95% CI 2.6 to 51.6), P= 0.001], use of kapok mattress [OR: 6.4 (95% CI 1.4 to 29.0), P= 0.015], passive smoker [OR: 4.7 (95% CI 1.3 to 17.0), P= 0.018], and atopic history [OR: 9.2 (95% CI 2.3 to 36.7), P= 0.002].
Conclusions There was a relationship between childhood contact to cat and the development of asthma in children. Rrisk factors that statistically significant were; contact to cockroach, use of kapok mattress, passive smoker, and history of allergy in study subject. [Paediatr Indones. 2009;49:379-6]

Keywords: asthma, contact to cat, risk, protective, children.