title: The association between delayed type hypersensitivity reaction to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and atopy in asthmatic children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been postulated that there is an inverse association between mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and atopy. We aimed to investigate if there is a similar relation in our study group, consisting 252 asthmatic children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In tuberculin testing indurations greater than or equal to 5 mm were accepted as positive. The most common aeroallergens were used in skin prick testing and reactions > or = 3 mm were accepted as positive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 139 patients PPD was negative, where as in 113 patients PPD was positive. Among the PPD (-) patients skin prick test was positive in 64 % (n = 89). Among the PPD (+) patients skin prick test was positive in 71 % (n = 80). As the two groups were compared for having positive skin prick test reactions no statistically significant difference was detected between them (p = 0.283).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tuberculin reactivity is not inversely associated with atopy in asthmatic children.
authors.affiliation: SSK Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Istanbul, Turkey. ynuhoglu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nuhoglu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nuhoglu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozcay
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology*; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012882:Skin Tests; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine