Dog and cat allergens and asthma among school children in Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA: altitude 7,200 feet.

A survey of the Middle School in Los Alamos, N.M., USA, identified 57 children with symptoms of asthma and 54 controls. Among these children, sensitization to cat and dog allergens was very strongly associated with bronchial reactivity and symptoms. In contrast, sensitization to mites, cockroach, or grass pollen allergens was not significantly associated with symptoms or bronchial reactivity. In keeping with these results, dust from houses in Los Alamos only contained high levels of cat or dog allergens.