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Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
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Published on: August 7, 2017

Prospective epidemiologic study on respiratory diseases in children and immunization against measles

Wiesław Jedrychowski1, Umberto Maugeri, Iwona Jedrychowska-Bianchi

  • 1Chair of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland. myjedryc@cyf-kr.edu.pl

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
|September 25, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Childhood measles vaccination may reduce allergy risk. This study found vaccinated children had lower rates of allergy, asthma, and respiratory infections compared to unvaccinated children.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Investigating the hypothesis that early childhood vaccination with live attenuated measles virus may prevent allergic sensitization.
  • A 3-year follow-up study conducted in Kraków, Poland, involving 1005 school children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential protective effect of measles vaccination against allergic sensitization and respiratory illnesses.
  • To assess the relationship between measles vaccination status and the incidence of chronic respiratory symptoms, allergy, asthma, and acute respiratory infections.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing individual vaccination records from school nurses to determine immunization status.
  • Collecting data on respiratory health endpoints including chronic respiratory symptoms, allergy, asthma, and susceptibility to acute respiratory infections.
  • Comparing health outcomes between vaccinated and non-vaccinated children, with specific attention to those who contracted measles.

Main Results:

  • Children vaccinated against measles who did not contract the disease exhibited the lowest rates of chronic respiratory symptoms.
  • Vaccinated children showed approximately half the risk of physician-diagnosed allergy (OR = 0.58) and asthma (OR = 0.50) compared to unvaccinated children.
  • Vaccination was also associated with a reduced risk of susceptibility to respiratory infections (OR = 0.51).

Conclusions:

  • The findings provide indirect evidence that infection with attenuated measles virus can modulate immunological responses.
  • Measles vaccination appears to alter immune reactions involved in the development of respiratory symptoms and allergic conditions.
  • Early childhood measles vaccination may play a role in preventing or reducing the risk of allergy and asthma.
Abstract

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