Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 1735-1502 10 2 2011 06 15 123 127 EN Mehran Karimi Department of Pediatrics, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Yazd, Iran Mohsen Mirzaei Health Center of Yazd Province, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Yazd, Iran Behnam Baghiani Moghadam School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Yazd, Iran Ehsan Fotouhi School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Yazd, Iran Atefeh Zare Mehrjardi Medical Library and Information Science, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Yazd, Iran 2015 10 01 Allergic diseases are frequent in children and their prevalence and severity differ in the different regions of the world. The association between pet ownership in childhood and subsequent asthma and sensitization is very controversial. In our survey conducted with standardized method (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood), 3200 children 6-7 years old were questioned regarding asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. The prevalence of Attacks and shortness of breath with wheezing during last 12 months in the children who had exposure to pets in the first year of life was 34.3% 'that was less than children who had not exposure (OR=3.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-8.21, P=0.021). Also  during  the  past  12  months  the  prevalence  of  night  dry  coughs,  allergic  rhinitis symptoms and eczema symptoms in those who had pet exposure in the first year of their life was lower than the children did not have it. However there was no significant difference in some other symptoms of asthma in two groups. Our findings suggest that pet exposure in the first year of life can have a protective effect on asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema. https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/view/301 https://ijaai.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijaai/article/download/301/301