Clinical studies on bronchial asthma caused by contact with hamsters

Bronchial asthma induced by contact with hamsters and other smalt rodents i s receiving higher attention from the medical profession not only because o f the problem of laboratory animal allergies (LAA), but also because of inc reasing household allergens for asthma, since keeping these pets has become more common in Japanese homes. The present report describes our studies on the backgrounds of nine patients with asthma who kept Dzungarian Dwarf ham sters as household pets. The following features were recognized among patie nts with bronchial asthma induced by contact with hamsters: 1) earlier onse t of symptoms than for keeping other household pets, at an average of 14.7 months or within 12 months in 78% of the cases following the start of pet k eeping; 2) adults ranging from their fate 30s to 40s who have children of p rimary school age; 3) dwelling in apartments; 4) relatively high level of s erum IgE and ECP; 5) positive for both immediate and tate type asthmatic re sponses on an inhaling induction test; and 6) rapid remission after the ces sation of pet keeping.