Toxocaríase, asma e índice de massa corporal em crianças e adolescentes em Campinas-SP, 1996 a 1998

Abstract

Objetivo: analisar a associação entre diagnóstico de asma e índice de massa corporal (IMC) em crianças e adolescentes com e sem marcador sorológico para toxocaríase. Métodos: estudo transversal, com dados dos prontuários de indivíduos de 2 a 14 anos de idade avaliados quanto à infecção por toxocaríase na unidade básica de saúde do Jardim Santa Mônica, Município de Campinas-SP, Brasil, tendo por referência o período de 1996 a 1998; para o estudo das associações entre presença de toxocaríase, asma e IMC, utilizou-se o teste de Wilcoxon. Resultados: entre 116 participantes, 37,9% tinham asma e 54,3% tinham toxocaríase; aqueles com asma e toxocaríase apresentaram maiores escores z para a distribuição do IMC (p=0,04); nos indivíduos com asma e sem toxocaríase, não se encontrou essa associação (p=0,17). Conclusão: houve associação entre asma e aumento do IMC em crianças e adolescentes com toxocaríase, o que não foi observado nos indivíduos sem a parasitose.

Human Toxocariasis: 2010 to 2020 Contributions from Brazilian Researchers

“…In 2012, Mendonça et al 51 did not find an association between positivity for aeroallergens and Toxocara infections in children living in poor areas of Salvador (Bahia State) and postulated that increased polyclonal IgE levels and the induction of a modified Th2 immune response to Toxocara infection might prevent the development of skin hypersensitivity to aeroallergens. On the other hand, Fialho and Corrêa 57 found an association between asthma and increased body mass index in children and adolescents living in Campinas (São Paulo State), and Fialho et al 58,59 confirmed a positive association between urticaria and infection with Toxocara in children.…”

A Systematic Review of Toxocariasis: A Neglected But High-Prevalence Disease in Brazil

“…10,27,[30][31][32]36,40 In all of these studies, a higher proportion of patients with asthma was found among those infected with Toxocara, which lends this infection greater relevance in terms of public health.…”

“…10,[24][25][26][27][28][29][31][32][33][34][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] One study did not describe the diagnostic methodology applied. 35 As T. canis and T. cati cannot be distinguished serologically, we identified the study population as having toxocariasis.…”

“…One reason may be that these animals are not the definitive hosts of the parasite, so there may be another type of inflammatory modulation in this host. In any case, Fialho and Corrêa 10 showed that asthmatic children infected with Toxocara have a higher body mass index than do asthmatic children not infected with the parasite. The association between asthma and toxocariasis has been noted by various articles published in several countries, although the studies were all based on cross-sectional designs.…”