Abstract

ALBERTI, Luiz Ronaldo; CALDEIRA, Daniel Adonai Machado  and  PETROIANU, Andy. Comparison Between Alergy History and Infection Prevalence in Children and Teenagers. Arq Med [online]. 2010, vol.24, n.1, pp.05-08. ISSN 2183-2447.

Objectives: In the last two decades, the prevalence of allergic diseases has been growing, especially in developed countries. This fact was related to the improvement of environmental conditions and reduction of infectious diseases. Nevertheless, our population is still under the risk of unhealthy conditions. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the relation between allergy and bacterial infection among children and teenagers.   Methods: 485 children and teenagers, 360 non-allergic and 125 allergic, were surveyed. All patients were followed in the public health primary care system of Belo Horizonte. The data concerning the past of allergy and infections confirmed by physicians were investigated. The chi-squared test and odds ratio were used for statistical comparisons.   Results: Infectious diseases were more prevalent in allergic subjects (p < 0.001; odds ratio = 3.36; confidence interval = 2.16 to 5.21). The infections occurred mainly in the sites of the allergic manifestations.   Conclusions: The allergic children and teenagers present higher infection rate, mainly in the sites of allergic manifestations.

Keywords : allergy; infectious diseases; atopy; asthma; infection.

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