Prevalence of atopy and parasitic infections in urban and rural children in Ghana*1

Autor: Abena S. Amoah, Laura C. Rodrigues, Maria Yazdanbakhsh, B.B. Obeng, K. Bosompem, S. Chai, R. van Ree, Daniel A. Boakye, Michael D. Wilson, I. Hesse
Rok vydání: 2004
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 113:S143
ISSN: 0091-6749
Popis: Rationale This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of atopy and helminth infections in urban and rural Ghana, following observations that some parasites actively reduce atopy. Methods Children in two schools in urban Accra, and two schools in rural areas around Accra were parasitologically examined and skin prick tested for a panel of allergens. Serum samples were collected for IgE measurements. Results In the urban schools, one with low socioeconomic status (JT) and the other with high socioeconomic status (UP), we found 14.7% and 2.4% had helminth infections respectively. P. falciparum infections however were not found in JT but in 4.7% of the UP children. Skin prick testing showed that of the subjects tested, 20.0% reacted to house dust mite (HDM) in UP and 2.1% in JT reflecting sensitization as determined by IgE responses to HDM. In the rural schools, we found 35.2% were positive for S. haematobium , 21.4.% for Hookworm, 0.0% for Ascaris and 0.6% for Trichuris. The prevalence of reactivity to HDM was 3.8%, which was very different from levels of sensitization to allergens, 52.2% positive for HDM. Conclusions A higher prevalence of atopy is observed in children from lower helminth prevalence urban settings, however, socioeconomic status in urban schools had a very significant influence on prevalence of atopy.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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