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https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/28017
EFFECT OF EARLY-LIFE GEOHELMINTH INFECTIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHEEZING AT 5 YEARS OF AGE
Author
Affilliation
Universidad Internacional del Ecuador. Facultad de Ciencias Medicas de la Salud y la Vida. Quito, Ecuador / Laboratorio de Investigaciones FEPIS. Quininde, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador / Institute of Infection and Immunity. London, United Kingdom.
Laboratorio de Investigaciones FEPIS. Quininde, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.
Laboratorio de Investigaciones FEPIS. Quininde, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.
Laboratorio de Investigaciones FEPIS. Quininde, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.
Laboratorio de Investigaciones FEPIS. Quininde, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Salvador, BA, Brasil.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health. London, United Kingdom.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Salvador, BA, Brasil.
St. George’s University of London. Population Health Research Institute. London, United Kingdom.
Laboratorio de Investigaciones FEPIS. Quininde, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.
Laboratorio de Investigaciones FEPIS. Quininde, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.
Laboratorio de Investigaciones FEPIS. Quininde, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.
Laboratorio de Investigaciones FEPIS. Quininde, Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Salvador, BA, Brasil.
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health. London, United Kingdom.
Universidade Federal da Bahia. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Salvador, BA, Brasil.
St. George’s University of London. Population Health Research Institute. London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
Exposures to geohelminths during gestation or early childhood may reduce risk of wheezing illness/asthma and atopy during childhood in tropical regions. Objectives: To investigate the effect of maternal and early childhood
geohelminths on development of wheeze/asthma and atopy during
the first 5 years of life.
Methods: A cohort of 2,404 neonates was followed to 5 years of age
in a rural district in coastal Ecuador. Data on wheeze were collected by
questionnaire and atopy was measured by allergen skin prick test
reactivity to 10 allergens at 5 years. Stool samples from mothers and
children were examined for geohelminths by microscopy.
Measurements and Main Results: A total of 2,090 (86.9%)
children were evaluated at 5 years. Geohelminths were observed in
45.5% of mothers and in 34.1% of children by 3 years. Wheeze and
asthma were reported for 12.6% and 5.7% of children, respectively,
whereas 14.0% had skin test reactivity at 5 years. Maternal
geohelminths were associated with an increased risk of wheeze
(adjusted odds ratio, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.88),
whereas childhood geohelminths over the first 3 years of life were
associated with reduced risk of wheeze (adjusted odds ratio, 0.70; 95%
confidence interval, 0.52–0.96) and asthma (adjusted odds ratio, 0.60;
95% confidence interval, 0.38–0.94) but not skin prick test reactivity.
The effects on wheeze/asthma were greatest with later age of first
infection, were observed only in skin test–negative children, but were
not associated with parasite burden or specific geohelminths.
Conclusions: Although maternal exposures to geohelminths may
increase childhood wheeze, childhood geohelminths during the first
3 years may provide protection through a nonallergic mechanism.
Registered as an observational study (ISRCTN41239086).
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