Three adult cases of asthma exacerbation caused by exposure to ferrets

Household pets are a risk factor for asthma. We report three adult patients with asthma exacerbated by exposure to ferrets. The safety of ferret allergens has not been evaluated previously. In these three cases, asthma exacerbation caused by ferret exposure was diagnosed based upon the clinical course and serological evaluation using a UniCAP100. Because of the likelihood of increases in pet ownership, interviewing patients with poorly-controlled asthma about their household pets may aid physicians in both diagnosis and treatment.