title: Association of atopy, asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis and intestinal helminth infections in Cuban children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship of past and current intestinal helminth infections with asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis and atopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 1320 children aged 4-14 years from two Cuban municipalities. Helminth infections were determined by stool examination and parental questionnaire. Asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic dermatitis were diagnosed by International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire, asthma additionally by spirometry, atopy by skin prick testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaire-based frequencies were 21% for asthma, 14% for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and 8% for atopic dermatitis. According to spirometry, 4% had asthma; 20% had a positive skin prick test. A history of infection for Enterobius vermicularis was associated with increased risk of atopic dermatitis (OR 1.88, P = 0.001) and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (OR 1.34, P = 0.046), and hookworm with increased risk of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (OR 2.77, P = 0.021). A positive stool examination for Ascaris lumbricoides infection was negatively associated with atopic dermatitis (OR 0.22, P = 0.007). Asthma and atopy were unrelated to helminth infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current A. lumbricoides infection protects against atopic dermatitis in Cuban children, while past infection with E. vermicularis and hookworm are risk factors for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and/or atopic dermatitis. Apparently, interactions differ depending on the type of helminth and atopic disease and on the time of helminth infestation.
authors.affiliation: Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. mwoerdemann@itg.be
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wördemann
authors.forename: Raquel Junco
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Lenina Menocal
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Heredia
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Collado Madurga
authors.forename: Aniran
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruiz Espinosa
authors.forename: Raul Cordovi
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Irai Atencio
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Millan
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Escobedo
authors.forename: Lazara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rojas Rivero
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gryseels
authors.forename: Mariano Bonet
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gorbea
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Polman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001196:Ascariasis / Q000276:immunology; D017164:Ascaris lumbricoides / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003462:Cuba; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors