title: Does pertussis infection induce manifestation of allergy?
abstract: To evaluate whether pertussis induces the development of allergy, a prospective study was performed in 25 children aged 0.8-12.2 years. The patients underwent allergy diagnostics during pertussis infection and at a follow-up visit 8-14 months later. Diagnostic criteria included the medical history of the patients and their families, a modified skin prick test, measurement of serum IgE and radio-allergosorbent test screening for specific sensitizations. At the time of pertussis, serum IgE concentration in the study group was 62 +/- 30 kU/ml. At the follow-up visit, there was a significant increase in serum IgE to 137 +/- 51 kU/ml, which was also significantly higher than IgE in an age-matched control group. Children at a significantly higher risk for developing IgE increase or new allergic sensitizations were those with a family history of allergy or potentially allergic disease in their personal history. Our results indicate that pertussis may induce IgE production in affected children.
authors: Kinderklinik der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Schuster
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hofmann
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Reinhardt
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E