The association of hepatitis A and Helicobacter pylori with sensitization to common allergens, asthma and hay fever in a population of young British adults.
BACKGROUND
A negative association of oro-faecally spread infection with serological markers of sensitization and allergic disease has been reported.


METHODS
Previous infection with hepatitis A and Helicobacter pylori was assessed in a community-based sample of young British adults and associations with serum-specific IgE to environmental allergens, asthma-like symptoms and hay fever were examined.


RESULTS
There was no association of previous infection with hepatitis A or H. pylori with wheeze or hay fever. There was no evidence of an association of infection with either agent and sensitization except for the isolated finding of a lower prevalence of sensitization to grass in those with IgG antibodies to H. pylori (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.43-0.99). This association did not explain the negative association of family size with sensitization to grass.


CONCLUSIONS
In this population, there was no evidence that infection with hepatitis A or H. pylori was associated with lower levels of IgE sensitization, asthma or hay fever except for an isolated finding of a negative association of H. pylori infection with sensitization to grass.
Jarvis
D
D
Department of Public Health Sciences, Kings College London (Guys' Campus), London, UK.
Luczynska
C
C
Chinn
S
S
Burney
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology*; D006113:United Kingdom
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E