Allergic disease and atopic sensitization in children in relation to measles vaccination and measles infection.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to investigate the role of measles vaccination and measles infection in the development of allergic disease and atopic sensitization.


METHODS
A total of 14 893 children were included from the cross-sectional, multicenter Prevention of Allergy-Risk Factors for Sensitization in Children Related to Farming and Anthroposophic Lifestyle study, conducted in 5 European countries (Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland). The children were between 5 and 13 years of age and represented farm children, Steiner-school children, and 2 reference groups. Children attending Steiner schools often have an anthroposophic (holistic) lifestyle in which some immunizations are avoided or postponed. Parental questionnaires provided information on exposure and lifestyle factors as well as symptoms and diagnoses in the children. A sample of the children was invited for additional tests, and 4049 children provided a blood sample for immunoglobulin E analyses. Only children with complete information on measles vaccination and infection were included in the analyses (84%).


RESULTS
In the whole group of children, atopic sensitization was inversely associated with measles infection, and a similar tendency was seen for measles vaccination. To reduce risks of disease-related modification of exposure, children who reported symptoms of wheezing and/or eczema debuting during first year of life were excluded from some analyses. After this exclusion, inverse associations were observed between measles infection and "any allergic symptom" and "any diagnosis of allergy by a physician." However, no associations were found between measles vaccination and allergic disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that measles infection may protect against allergic disease in children.
Rosenlund
Helen
H
Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. helen.rosenlund@ki.se
Bergström
Anna
A
Alm
Johan S
JS
Swartz
Jackie
J
Scheynius
Annika
A
van Hage
Marianne
M
Johansen
Kari
K
Brunekreef
Bert
B
von Mutius
Erika
E
Ege
Markus J
MJ
Riedler
Josef
J
Braun-Fahrländer
Charlotte
C
Waser
Marco
M
Pershagen
Göran
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000887:Anthroposophy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors
D008458:Measles Vaccine; D007073:Immunoglobulin E