title: Prevalence of intestinal parasites among individuals with allergic skin diseases.
abstract: The prevalence of intestinal protozoans and helminths in stool samples of individuals with allergic cutaneous symptoms was evaluated to study a possible link between parasites and allergy. Altogether, 218 patients who had chronic urticaria, atopic dermatitis, or pruritus of unknown origin were included in the study. Standard laboratory tests for the detection of allergic etiology were performed for all patients. The presence of intestinal parasites was investigated using microscopy, immunofluorescence, and immunoenzymatic assays. Overall, protozoans and helminths were recovered from the stools of 48 subjects (P = 0.004), 18 of whom were affected with intestinal symptoms (P = 0.023). The presence of Giardia lamblia in the stools was significantly associated with allergic cutaneous manifestations (P = 0.030). In addition, patients with allergy were significantly more likely to have > or = 5 Blastocystis hominis organisms per field (P = 0.046). There was a set of patients with allergic cutaneous diseases in whom the presence of intestinal parasites may not be incidental.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, University of Ancona, Ospedale Regionale, via Conca, 1-60020 Ancona, AN, Italy. anconacmi@interfree.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giacometti
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cirioni
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Antonicelli
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Amato
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: Maria Simona
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scalise
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000150:complications; D014581:Urticaria / Q000150:complications*