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Schistosoma mansoni infection is associated with a reduced course of asthma

2003; Elsevier BV; Volume: 111; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1067/mai.2003.1381

1097-6825

Manoel Medeiros, Joanemile P. Figueiredo, Maria Cecília Almeida, Maria Analia Matos, Maria Ilma Araújo, Álvaro A. Cruz, Ajax Mercês Atta, Marco Antônio Vasconcelos Rêgo, Amélia Ribeiro de Jesus, Ernesto Akio Taketomi, Edgar M. Carvalho,

Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues

Background: Helminthic infections decrease skin reactivity to indoor allergens, but data on whether they influence asthma severity are lacking. Objective: This study evaluated the course of asthma in patients with and without Schistosoma mansoni infection. Methods: Asthmatic subjects were enrolled from 3 low-socioeconomic areas: a rural area endemic for schistosomiasis (group 1) in addition to a rural area (group 2) and a slum area (group 3), both of which were not endemic for schistosomiasis. A questionnaire on the basis of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood study was applied in these 3 areas, and from each area, 21 age- and sex-matched asthmatic subjects were selected for a prospective 1-year study. Pulmonary function tests, skin prick tests with indoor allergens, stool examinations, and serum evaluations were performed in these subjects. Every 3 months, the subjects were evaluated for asthma exacerbation through physical examination, and a questionnaire regarding asthma symptoms and use of antiasthma medicine was administered. Results: The prevalence of S mansoni infection was greater in group 1 compared with in groups 2 and 3 (P < .0001), whereas the frequency of other helminth and protozoa infections was similar among the 3 groups. The frequency of positive skin test responses to indoor allergens was less (19.0%) in group 1 subjects relative to those in group 2 (76.2%) and group 3 (57.1%; P < .001). The frequencies of symptoms, use of antiasthma drugs, and pulmonary abnormal findings at physical examination were less in group 1 subjects than in group 2 and 3 subjects (P = .0001). Conclusion: Our results suggest that S mansoni infection is associated with a milder course of asthma.