EN
For the past several decades a gradual growth in the number of people suffering from diseases with an atopic background has been observed. This is mainly due to the fact that both the indoor and outdoor environment are becoming increasingly polluted. In the indoor environment, the most significant factors resulting in respiratory tract allergies are house dust mite and domestic animal allergens. The aim of this work was to determine whether there is a dependency between constant exposure to animals and development of allergic diseases of the respiratory tract. In order to collect research material, the European Community Respiratory Health Survey was used. Altogether, 402 residents of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie province participated in the studies: 272 people with diagnosed allergic disease and 130 without athopy features. Logistic regression proved that bronchial asthma development was determined by patients age, type of building they live in, exposure to cats, dogs, hamsters or farm animals during childhood. Whereas allergic rhinitis occurred depending on the place of residence, exposure to farm animals during childhood and having a dog as an adult.