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Ascaris and bronchial asthma in children
African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences
|December 1, 1982
Summary
Children with bronchial asthma showed a higher prevalence of positive skin reactions to Ascaris antigen. This suggests a potential link between Ascaris infection and childhood asthma, warranting further investigation and screening.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Bronchial asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in children.
- Helminthic infections, such as Ascaris, are prevalent in tropical regions.
- The potential role of parasitic infections in asthma exacerbation is an area of ongoing research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Ascaris infection and bronchial asthma in children.
- To determine if skin test reactivity to Ascaris antigen differs between asthmatic children and controls.
- To explore correlations between positive Ascaris skin tests and clinical asthma parameters.
Main Methods:
- Skin tests using Ascaris antigen were performed on 270 children with asthma and 220 controls.
- Faecal and sputum samples were analyzed for helminth presence.
- Statistical analysis was used to compare Ascaris antigen reactivity between groups.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher percentage of asthmatic children (27%) exhibited positive skin reactions to Ascaris antigen compared to controls (8%) (P < 0.001).
- Positive reactions were not associated with patient sex, asthma severity, presence of Ascaris ova in faeces, or blood eosinophil counts.
- No helminth larvae were detected in sputum samples.
Conclusions:
- The study suggests a possible association between Ascaris infection and childhood bronchial asthma.
- Further research, including provocation tests and anthelminthic drug trials, is recommended to confirm this link.
- Routine screening for helminthiasis and deworming in asthmatic children in tropical areas is advised.
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