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Nematode infections are risk factors for staphylococcal infection in children
Sandra F Moreira-Silva1, Alba L A Leite, Eliana F Brito
1Unidade de Doenças Infecciosas, Hospital Infantil Nossa Senhora da Glória, Vitória, ES, Brasil.
Insights
Children with staphylococcal infections are more likely to have intestinal nematode or Toxocara infections. These parasitic infections may increase the risk of staphylococcal infections in children due to immunomodulation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Nematode infections are linked to pyogenic liver abscess in children.
- Parasitic infections can modulate the immune system, potentially increasing susceptibility to other infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the frequency of intestinal nematodes and Toxocara infection in children with and without staphylococcal infections.
- To investigate the association between parasitic infections and staphylococcal infections in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Fecal examination, serology for Toxocara sp., plasma immunoglobulin levels, and eosinophil counts were performed.
- A comparative study was conducted on 80 children with staphylococcal infection and 110 children with other diseases.
- Demographic and socioeconomic factors were analyzed for significant differences between groups.
Main Results:
- Children with staphylococcal infections showed a significantly higher frequency of intestinal nematodes and Toxocara infection.
- Higher eosinophil counts and elevated IgE levels were observed in children with staphylococcal and parasitic infections.
- A significant correlation was found between intestinal nematodes/Toxocara infection and staphylococcal infection in children.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal nematode and Toxocara infections are associated with an increased risk of staphylococcal infections in children.
- Immunomodulation induced by helminth infections may enhance susceptibility to staphylococcal infections.
- The Th2 lymphocyte response to helminth antigens might play a role in this increased susceptibility.
Abstract:
Nematode infection may be a risk factor for pyogenic liver abscess in children and we hypothesized that the immunomodulation induced by those parasites would be a risk factor for any staphylococcal infection in children. The present study was designed to compare, within the same hospital, the frequency of intestinal nematodes and Toxocara infection in children with and without staphylococcal infections. From October 1997 to February 1998, 80 children with staphylococcal infection and 110 children with other diseases were submitted to fecal examination, serology for Toxocara sp., evaluation of plasma immunoglobulin levels, and eosinophil counts. Mean age, gender distribution, birthplace, and socioeconomic conditions did not differ significantly between the two groups. Frequency of intestinal nematodes and positive serology for Toxocara, were remarkably higher in children with staphylococcal infections than in the non-staphylococcal group. There was a significant correlation between intestinal nematodes or Toxocara infection and staphylococcal infection in children, reinforced by higher eosinophil counts and higher IgE levels in these children than in the control group. One possible explanation for this association would be the enhancement of bacterial infection by the immunomodulation induced by helminth infections, due to strong activation of the Th2 subset of lymphocytes by antigens from larvae and adult worms.