title: Allergic family history as a protective determinant to helminthic infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigate the resistance to helminths in children with an allergic family history.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was undertaken as part of the Prospective Cohort Study of Thai Children (PCTC) that followed all births in the year 2001 from rural districts in Thailand. The family histories of allergic diseases were validated by the physicians'diagnoses and medical record reviews. Fresh stool examinations were carried out at 18 to 36 months of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1,076 live births in the cohort, 659 children had complete information. A family history of allergy presented in 5.4% of the children. The prevalence of any helminthic infection, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm were 25.0%, 18.2%, 9.2%, and 5.3%, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio of a family history of allergy for helminthic infection was 0.28 (95% CI, 0.08-0.95).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A family history of allergic diseases independently increases resistance to helminthic infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand. pasurees@gmail.com
authors.forename: Pasuree
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sangsupawanich
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors.forename: Virasakdi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chongsuvivatwong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ladda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mo-Suwan
authors.affiliation: Prospective Cohort Study of Thai Children, Health System Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chanpen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choprapawon
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology