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Early BCG vaccination and development of atopy
J S Alm1, G Lilja, G Pershagen
1Sachs' Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Lancet (London, England)
|August 9, 1997
Summary
Early BCG vaccination does not appear to impact the development of atopic diseases in children with a family history of atopy. This study found no significant difference in atopic disease incidence between vaccinated and unvaccinated children.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Allergy
Background:
- Rising rates of atopic diseases may correlate with declining infectious diseases or altered childhood vaccination schedules.
- Investigated the potential influence of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination on atopy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if early BCG vaccination affects the incidence of atopic disease in children with a predisposition.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 216 BCG-vaccinated and 358 unvaccinated children with atopic heredity.
- Children assessed for atopic history, clinical signs, skin-prick testing (SPT), and serum allergen-specific IgE levels.
- Parental serum also analyzed for IgE antibodies.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in atopic disease prevalence between BCG-vaccinated (36%) and unvaccinated (41%) children.
- Similar rates of positive SPT and circulating allergen-specific IgE antibodies in both groups.
- Atopy confirmed in parents of approximately two-thirds of children in each group; other risk factors were evenly distributed.
Conclusions:
- Early BCG vaccination does not appear to influence the development of atopic disease before school age in children with atopic heredity.