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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

Assessment of the association between pediatric asthma and Streptococcus pyogenes upper respiratory infection

Diana Frey1, Robert Jacobson, Gregory Poland

  • 1College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.

Allergy and Asthma Proceedings
|August 14, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children with asthma face a higher risk of developing Streptococcus pyogenes upper respiratory infections. This study highlights a potential link between asthma and increased susceptibility to bacterial infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Asthma is a common chronic respiratory condition in children.
  • The relationship between asthma and susceptibility to specific bacterial infections, like Streptococcus pyogenes, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between childhood asthma and the risk of Streptococcus pyogenes upper respiratory tract infections.
  • To determine if asthma status influences the incidence of S. pyogenes infections in children and adolescents.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 327 children from the Rochester Family Measles Study.
  • Asthma status determined by medical record review; S. pyogenes infections identified through laboratory tests (cultures, rapid antigen, PCR).
  • Poisson regression analysis used to assess the association between asthma and infection risk, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

  • Of 327 subjects, 114 (35%) had asthma.
  • Incidence of S. pyogenes infections was 0.25/person-year in asthmatic children versus 0.18/person-year in non-asthmatic children.
  • Adjusted risk ratio for asthma was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.12-1.74; p = 0.0029), indicating a significantly increased risk.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood asthma is associated with an elevated risk of Streptococcus pyogenes upper respiratory infections.
  • Asthma may impact susceptibility to microbial infections, warranting consideration of a potential causal relationship.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this increased risk.

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