Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada; Center for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
J Pediatr. 2014 Aug;165(2):348-355.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.04.045. Epub 2014 Jun 11.
To compare knowledge, attitudes, and risks related to pet contact in households with and without immunocompromised children.
A questionnaire was distributed to parents of children diagnosed with cancer (immunocompromised; n=80) or diabetes (immunocompetent; n=251) receiving care at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Information was collected on knowledge of pets as sources of disease, concerns regarding pet-derived pathogens, and pet ownership practices. Data were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression.
The questionnaire was completed by 65% (214 of 331) of the individuals to whom it was given. Pet ownership was common; 45% of respondents had a household pet when their child was diagnosed, and many (households with a child with diabetes, 49%; households with a child with cancer, 20%) acquired a new pet after diagnosis. Most households that obtained a new pet had acquired a pet considered high risk for infectious disease based on species/age (diabetes, 73%; cancer, 77%). Parents of children with cancer were more likely than parents of children with diabetes to recall being asked by a physician/staff member if they owned a pet (OR, 5.9) or to recall receiving zoonotic disease information (OR, 5.3), yet these interactions were reported uncommonly (diabetes, ≤13%; cancer, ≤48%). Greater knowledge of pet-associated pathogens was associated with recalled receipt of previous education on this topic (OR, 3.9). Pet exposure outside the home was reported frequently for children in non-pet-owning households (diabetes, 48%; cancer, 25%).
Improved zoonotic disease education is needed for pet-owning and non-pet-owning households with immunocompromised children, with ongoing provision of information while the children are at increased risk of disease. Additional efforts from pediatric and veterinary healthcare professionals are required.
比较免疫功能低下儿童家庭与无免疫功能低下儿童家庭在宠物接触方面的知识、态度和风险。
向在东安大略省儿童医院接受治疗的被诊断患有癌症（免疫功能低下；n=80）或糖尿病（免疫功能正常；n=251）的儿童的父母分发了一份问卷。收集了有关宠物作为疾病来源的知识、对宠物源性病原体的担忧以及宠物拥有情况的信息。采用多变量逻辑回归分析数据。
问卷完成率为 65%（331 名受访者中的 214 名）。宠物拥有率较高；在孩子被诊断时，45%的受访者家中有宠物，许多（有糖尿病孩子的家庭，49%；有癌症孩子的家庭，20%）在诊断后获得了新宠物。根据物种/年龄（糖尿病，73%；癌症，77%），获得新宠物的家庭中，大多数家庭获得的宠物被认为具有较高的传染病风险。与有糖尿病儿童的父母相比，有癌症儿童的父母更有可能被医生/工作人员询问是否拥有宠物（OR，5.9）或回忆收到过人畜共患病信息（OR，5.3），但这些相互作用的报告频率较低（糖尿病，≤13%；癌症，≤48%）。对宠物相关病原体的了解程度越高，就越有可能回忆起之前接受过有关这一主题的教育（OR，3.9）。非养宠物家庭的儿童在家庭外接触宠物的情况较为常见（糖尿病，48%；癌症，25%）。
需要为有免疫功能低下儿童的养宠物和不养宠物家庭提供更好的人畜共患病教育，并在儿童处于疾病高发风险时持续提供信息。儿科和兽医保健专业人员需要付出更多努力。
