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[The effect of DPT and BCG vaccinations on atopic disorders]
H Yoneyama1, M Suzuki, K Fujii
1Department of Pediatrics, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Hiroo General Hospital.
Insights
Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) vaccination may increase the risk of atopic diseases. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination appears to inhibit their development, though this effect may be temporary.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Context:
- Investigating the long-term effects of childhood vaccinations.
- Examining the prevalence of atopic diseases in a specific island population.
- Assessing the influence of DPT and BCG vaccines on immune system development.
Purpose:
- To determine the association between DPT and BCG vaccinations and the incidence of atopic diseases.
- To analyze vaccination status in relation to conditions such as bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis.
Summary:
- A study on 143 children in Kodushima, Tokyo, found a significantly higher incidence of bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis in children who received DPT vaccination compared to those who did not.
- BCG vaccination showed a potential protective effect against atopic disorders in tuberculin-positive elementary school students, but this association was not observed in junior high school students.
Impact:
- Findings suggest DPT vaccination may promote atopic disorders, while BCG vaccination may inhibit them.
- Highlights the need for further research into vaccine-specific effects on atopy.
- Informs public health strategies regarding vaccination schedules and atopic disease prevention.
Methods:
To examine the relationship between DPT and BCG vaccinations and development of atopic diseases, we studied on 143 children resident of the island of Kodushima, Tokyo Japan. This study dealt with the entire population of 0-3 years old (82), all of the first graders of the elementary school (31) and all of the first graders of the junior high school (30) on the Island.
Results:
Among the 82 children aged 0-3, out of the 39 who received DPT vaccination, 10 (25.6%) suffered from bronchial asthma and this ratio was significantly higher than among the children who have not received DPT vaccination (1 in 43, 2.3%), (p < 0.01). This was also the case concerning atopic dermatitis (7 in 39, 18.0% vs 1 in 43, 2.3%) (p < 0.05). The same trend was also observed if three diseases (bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis) were combined (22 in 39, 56.4% vs 4 in 43, 9.3%) (p < 0.01). As to the context of BCG vaccination, there were no cases with atopic disorders among the tuberculin positive first graders of the elementary school. No such relations, however, were observed among the first graders of the junior high school at all.
Findings:
From these results, we conclude that DPT vaccination has some effect in the promotion of atopic disorders, while successful BCG vaccination inhibits the development of atopic disorders, although the preventive effect of BCG may not last for many years.