title: The role of worm infestation in allergic rhinitis.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the relevance of the hygiene hypothesis;   that is to determine if worm infestation has a protective role against the development of   allergic rhinitis. A prospective case controlled study was conducted. Specific IgG levels to   Toxocara were studied in 85 patients confirmed to have allergic rhinitis and were compared   to levels in another 85 controls, with no form of allergy. The IgG assay was done using ELISA   technique. There was a higher incidence of positive specific IgG to Toxocara in the controls   as compared to allergic patients. The values were statistically significant [Chi square test   (p=0.002)]. This negative association between worm infestation and allergic rhinitis suggests   that a previous worm infestation could protect against the development of allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: ORL Dept, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Manuel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuljit
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnan
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balraj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D007816:Larva Migrans, Visceral / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E