pets

Question

Hello,
My little boy is four and has cystic fibrosis. He would like to have a pet. Do you think this is possible? If yes, what are the animals that we can accommodate, and those to avoid?
Thank you in advance for your response.

Answer

Hello,
Several experiments reported the therapeutic virtue of pets in children, the elderly or people with serious diseases.
In the case of cystic fibrosis, two potential problems arise: An "infectious" risk and an "allergic" one.
For the risk of infection, we can consider that the "standard" hygiene measures, washing hands, not to get licked by the animal's face is enough.
So under those measures, there is no problem for your little boy having a pet like a cat or dog, for example. In contrast, two kinds of pets appear problematic for CF patients: birds and fish or other animals kept in aquariums. Birds can carry a few germs problematic for CF patients, like Chlamydia, atypical Mycobacteria and Aspergillus. It is safer not to have contact with birds. Risk for infections is highest with cleaning cages, contact with feces and keeping birds cages in the sleeping room or in small rooms not sufficiently ventilated.
Animals living in aquariums bear a risk for CF patients of transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (living in humid environment) and atypical mycobacteria and are therefore not recommendable.

For the allergic risk, it depends on the background of each.
In both cases it is further recommended that the animal does not stay in the child's room, let alone get into the habit of sleeping on the bed.
Finally, it is advisable to discuss with the medical team of CRCM that will best advise you based on the health of your child and his own allergy risk.

I would add the answer made ​​by the Belgian team at the center of Leuven:"In families with CF, there is no need for extra measures with regard to pets. Of course normal rules of hygiene and safety need to be followed. For instance a pet needs to be vaccinated. There is no indication that patients with CF become allergic to pets more often than others. Recent data even suggest that being in contact with several pets during the first years of life may protect against allergies later. But of course, allergy for pets with disease signs such allergic rhinitis (itchy nose, blocked nose, sneezing, watery eyes) or asthma (acute episodes of cough, wheeze or shortness of breath) are rather common and a patient may thus have CF and be allergic to dogs or other pets as well. In unusual situations such as CF patients with reduced immunity post lung transplant, a sick dog may infect the patient. And also the reverse has been described such as an adult with CF and lung infection with a highly transmissible Pseudomonas strain who gave his bacteria to his dog. But these situations are really exceptional. If you have other concerns about your dog we advise you to discuss it with your CF-doctor. "

I hope this answers your question,
Sincerely

Dr Sophie Ravilly

17.04.2012