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The inverse association of salmonellosis in infancy with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma at school-age: a longitudinal study

Authors :
F. Tiddia
Salvatore Tripodi
G. Porcedda
A. E. Tozzi
Valentina Panetta
Umberto Pelosi
Paolo Maria Matricardi
C. Pintor
Source :
Allergy. 60(5)
Publication Year :
2005

Abstract

Background: Respiratory allergies are inversely related to early acquisition of food-borne and fecal-oral infections, consumption of unpasteurized milk, early exposure to stables and high endotoxin concentrations in a farming environment. We tested therefore if infection by Salmonella in early life can protect from development of respiratory allergies later in life. Methods: During 2003, we studied two groups of Sardinian children (age 6–18 years) who had been hospitalized before 4 years of age (during 1989–2001) with non-typhoid salmonellosis (n = 148) or acute enteritis of nonbacterial etiology (NB-enteritis) (n = 167). Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR) and asthma were evaluated by telephonic interview with a ISAAC questionnaire; participants reporting AR and/or asthma were further examined through a complete diagnostic work-up to objectively confirm or exclude current disease. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze the role of different types of enteritis on the risk of developing allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or asthma over time. Results: Children who had been hospitalized with salmonellosis had a lower prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (eight of 148, 5.4%vs 23 of 167, 13.8%; P = 0.019) or asthma (five of 148, 3.4%vs 21 of 167, 12.6%; P = 0.006) than those who had been hospitalized with NB-enteritis. The proportional hazard of salmonellosis for asthma was 0.23 (95% CI: 0.08–0.67; P

Details

ISSN :
01054538
Volume :
60
Issue :
5
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Allergy
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....f4fa74ff446cf5726bbff19741b118f3