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JACI Highlights - March 2007
Hunninghake et al – Sensitization to Ascaris lumbricoides and severity of childhood asthma in Costa Rica
In the March 2007 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Hunninghake and colleagues examine the relationship between sensitization to a parasite, Ascaris lumbricoides, and severity of asthma in a Costa Rican population with low prevalence of parasitic infection but high prevalence of parasitic exposure. Infection with Ascaris lumbricoides is the most prevalent parasitic disease in the world, affecting an estimated 1.4 billion persons. They found that sensitization to the parasite is associated with increased risk of reduced lung function and asthma exacerbations as well as increased severity and morbidity of asthma among children in Costa Rica. These findings suggest that the association between sensitization to the parasite and indicators of asthma severity is likely mediated by an increased degree of allergy. Sensitization to Ascaris appears to be an important marker of severe allergy, increased disease morbidity, and increased disease severity in children with asthma.
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