The Role of Infections in Atopic Diseases in Children

Abstract

ÖzAmaç: Özellikle gelişmiş ülkelerde olmak üzere son 40 yıldır atopik hastalıkların prevalansında artış görülmektedir. Bu durum iyileşen yaşam koşulları nedeni ile enfeksiyonlara maruziyetin azalması ile açıklanmaktadır. Çalışmamızda bazı enfeksiyonların atopik hastalıklar üzerindeki etkisi araştırılmıştır.Yöntemler: Çalışmamıza atopik 50 hasta ile yaş ve cins olarak benzer 46 sağlam çocuk kontrol gurubu olarak alındı. Olguların deri testleri yapıldı ve serum immünoglobulin (Ig) E düzeyleri belirlendi. Hepatit A virüs (HAV), Toxoplasma gondii, Epstein-Barr virüs (EBV) ve sitomegalovirüs (SMV) seropozitivitelerini saptamak için serumda spesifik IgG belirlendi. Helicobacter pylori antijen pozitifliği gaitada arandı.Bulgular: Atopik çocuklarda anti-HAV IgG seropozitivitesi (%30,0) ve H. pylori antijen pozitifliği (%22,0) kontrollerden (sırası ile, %52,1; %47,8) anlamlı olarak daha düşük bulundu. T. gondii, EBV viral kapsid antijeni ve SMV IgG seropozitifliği açısından her iki grupta anlamlı istatistiksel farklılık saptanmadı. Sonuç: HAV ve H. pylori enfeksiyonları atopik hastalıklardan koruyucu enfeksiyonlar olabilir. Ancak genellenebilir sonuçlara ulaşmak için daha geniş ölçekli çalışmalara gereksinim vardır.AnahtarSözcükler:Atopi, alerji, enfeksiyon, hijyen, hepatit A virüs, helicobakter pylori Aim:Especially in the developed countries; there has been an increase in the prevalence of atopic diseases over the past 40 years. This is explained by the improved living conditions and reduced exposure to infections. In this study, effects of some infections on atopic diseases were investigated.Methods: Fifty atopic patients and 46 age-and sex-matched healthy children were included in the study. Skin prick test was performed and serum immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels were determined in all subjects. Serum-specific IgG was investigated to detect seropositivity of hepatitis A virus (HAV), Toxoplasma gondii, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). In addition, Helicobacter pylori feacal antigen test was done.Results: Anti-HAV IgG seropositivity (30.0%) and H. pylori antigen positivity (22.0%) were significantly lower in atopic children than in controls (52.1%, 47.8%, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in seropositivities of T. gondii, EBV viral capsid antigen and CMV IgG. Conclusion:HAV and H. pylori may be protective infections in atopic patients. However, there is a need for larger scale studies to achieve generalizable results.

The prevalence and associated factors of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema in Turkish children and adolescents

“…Among the students in this study, the prevalence of students with itchy rashes lasting at least 6 months until this age and periodically clearing up and recurring was 4.3%, a rate which was low compared with the results of studies conducted in Turkey (2%−28.3%) 2,14,18 and in other countries (9.7%−19.2%) 15–17 . However, it can be said that the rate of occurrence of allergic rhinitis in students (43.2%) was high compared to the results of studies made both in our country (5.1%−55.8%) 2,3,14 and in different countries (16.3%−42.6%) 15–17 …”

“…It is known that symptoms of asthma are observed in about one in seven children in the world, and that the prevalence of wheezing ranges between 7.4% and 22.7% in children of school age 15–17 . In our country, too, it has been revealed that the prevalence of wheezing in children has similar values (7%−27%) 3,6,14 . In the present study, however, the rate of wheezing, seen in over one in five students (21.8%), can be considered as high when compared to rates in our country and the world.…”

“…[15][16][17] In our country, too, it has been revealed that the prevalence of wheezing in children has similar values (7%−27%). 3,6,14 In the present study, however, the rate of wheezing, seen in over one in five students (21.8%), can be considered as high when compared to rates in our country and the world. Among the students in this study, the prevalence of students with itchy rashes…”

“…It was determined that the highest prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms was observed in middle and low‐income centers, 48 and eczema became an important disease in developing countries as well as developed countries 49 . In our country, there are significant differences between cities and regions in the prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases, and the increase in prevalence continues 3,41,50 . In a study carried out in Denizli, it was found that rates of lifelong doctor‐diagnosed eczema and atopic eczema increased, 4 while in Istanbul during the years 2009−2018, the rates of asthma and allergic rhinitis increased, whereas the rates of eczema decreased 3 .…”

“…Nowadays, asthma and allergies are among the most frequently seen chronic diseases in children and can lead to various problems such as absence from school, request for emergency services, hospitalization, and use of chronic drugs 1 . Especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries globally, and in our country, the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in children and adolescents continues to increase 2–4 …”