Living with dogs can help protect babies from range of illnesses like asthma
Studies on cats and other pets did not have the same results

Dog aren't just cool. They can also have health benefits.
A recent study shows that dogs can help strengthen immune systems of children against allergies and asthma if they are exposed to them, as well as barnyard animals, within the first three months of life.
The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was conducted on children on farms. It found that those who lived in close proximity of animals, especially youngsters in the Amish community, were less likely to have asthma than those who grew up on industrialised farms away from animals.....

Read more here: independent.co.uk

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Lack of Benefit of Azithromycin Use in Acute Asthma Exacerbations

According to a study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine, there are no clinical benefits from adding azithromycin (500 mg for 3 days) to standard treatment for adults who presented to emergency departments with acute asthma exacerbations requiring a corticosteroid course.1 Furthermore, no differences in the scores of self-reported symptoms, quality of life, lung function, or speed of symptom resolution were observed.....

Read more here: contagionlive.com 

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How to lower asthma and allergy risk in kids
Are allergies increasing in India? Much like other non-communicable diseases, this threat to health will soon grip middle and developing nations.

Are allergies going up or are more people being diagnosed with the disorder that causes incessant sneezing, wheezing, breathlessness, rash, runny nose, sinus pain, vomiting, and itchy eyes, ears, lips, throat and mouth.
There’s a definitive rise. There is no data for India, but US data shows that food allergies in children rose by 50% between 1997 and 2011. The increase is more marked in developed countries, but much like other non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancers, this threat to health will soon grip middle and developing nations.....

Read more here: hindustantimes.com