Atopy in children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether immune responses against chronic HBV infection in children have an effect on prevalence of allergic diseases and atopy.


METHODS
Children with chronic HBV infection [HBV carriage (group 1) and chronic hepatitis (group 2)] were screened for allergic diseases. The results were compared with age-matched controls (group 3).


RESULTS
The frequencies of doctor-diagnosed 'asthma', 'allergic rhinitis' and 'eczema' were 29.4%, 7.8% and 7.8% in group 1; 7.8%, 5.2% and 5.2% in group 2 and 12.4%, 9% and 2.8% in group 3, respectively. 'History of ever wheezing', doctor-diagnosed 'asthma' and 'eczema' were more common in group 1 than group 3 (p < 0.05 for all parameters), and 'history of ever wheezing' and 'doctor-diagnosed asthma' were more common in group 1 than group 2 (p < 0.05 for al parameters). Atopy was more common in group 1 (35.2%) than both groups 2 (15.7%) and 3 (18%) (p < 0.05 for all parameters). Vertical transmission was more common in patients with versus without atopy in HBV carrier group (33.3% vs. 9%, p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Immune responses in chronic HBV infection associated with carrier state may also lead to allergic diseases, which suggests the necessity of following these patients for the allergic diseases along with their viral reactivation.
Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatric Allergy, Trabzon, Turkey.
Murat
M
Cakir
Taner
T
Karakas
Fazil
F
Orhan
Aysenur
A
Okten
Yusuf
Y
Gedik
D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004485:Eczema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
D007073:Immunoglobulin E