T and B cell status in bronchiolitis and bronchial asthma

Immunologic status of 43 children, 13 with bronchiolitis and 30 with bronchial asthma was studied, and compared with 10 infants and 16 healthy children of respective control groups. Humoral immunity was assessed by absolute eosinophil count and B cell count (EAC rosette method) and cellular immunity by T cell count (E rosette method) and DNCB skin test. B cell subset of lymphocytes were raised in both the study groups but associated significant eosinophilia was seen only in bronchial asthma. The study demonstrated significantly lower mean T cell count and depressed DNCB reactivity in children of bronchial asthma. Children with bronchiolitis too had significantly lower mean T cell count. Thus both humoral and cellular immunity were altered in children with bronchial asthma and bronchiolitis.