Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Enterovirus infections in early childhood and the risk of atopic disease--a nested case-control study
L Korhonen1, A Kondrashova, S Tauriainen
1Department of Virology, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. laura.m.korhonen@uta.fi
Background:
Enterovirus infections in childhood have been associated with a reduced risk of atopy in cross-sectional studies.
Objective:
To study the relation between enterovirus infections in the first 2 years of life and atopic disease with IgE sensitization in a prospective study setting.
Methods:
This was a nested case-control study among children who had been followed from birth. Neutralizing antibodies against 12 enterovirus serotypes were analysed at the age of 2 years from 71 atopic children and 142 non-atopic control children. Atopy was defined as having an atopic disease and IgE antibodies against at least one aeroallergen by the age of 5 years.
Results:
Cumulative exposure to different enterovirus serotypes was inversely associated with atopy [odds ratio (OR) 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56-0.96]. The most pronounced protection was seen when echoviruses were analysed as a separate group (OR 0.63; 95%CI: 0.46-0.88).
Conclusions And Clinical Relevance:
We propose that exposure to several different enteroviruses in early childhood is inversely associated with atopic diseases. Our results support the hypothesis that repeated microbial infections in early life may protect from atopic sensitization and atopic diseases.
More Related Videos
09:01An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
05:53Candidate Gene Testing in Clinical Cohort Studies with Multiplexed Genotyping and Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 21, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Cytomegalovirus Disease
Confounding in Epidemiological Studies
Asthma I: Introduction