Milwaukee, WI -- Pet allergies are nothing to sneeze at but the best prevention may be having a cat or dog around the house.

A new study suggests that kids who are continuously exposed to dog and cat hair -- especially between ages 7 and 11 -- are less likely to develop allergies than those who aren't exposed to pet dander at all.

In fact, 80 percent of kids with cat allergies have never had a cat in their home.

Although allergy symptoms do increase when a person who is allergic is exposed to allergens, scientists in Northern Sweden say the new research sneezes in the face of old wives tales like avoiding cats and dogs at home is the way to prevent allergies.

The complete findings appear in the latest issue of "Journal of Allergy And Clinical Immunology."

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