Intestinal helminths have been proposed to have a protective role against allergic sensitization and atopic diseases. However, consistent data demonstrating this are lacking in Sub-Saharan countries. We aimed to assess the association between intestinal helminths and allergic disorders among school children enrolled in mass deworming program in Sululta, Ethiopia. A cross sectional study was conducted among 526 school children aged 5 to 14 years old from primary government schools in Sululta district, Ethiopia. An interviewer-led questionnaire administered to parents provided information on demographic and lifestyle variables. Questions on allergic disease symptoms were collected using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) questionnaire 6 months following deworming treatments. Atopy was defined as a positive skin prick test reaction to one or both dust mite (Dermatophagoides) and German cockroach (Blatella germanica) allergens. Fresh stool samples were collected, processed, and examined by direct wet mount, Kato-Katz technique, and formol-ether concentration technique. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess the association between allergic disorder and helminths infection. Of the total 526 school children, 58.2% were females. Overall, 24% (126/526) had allergic symptoms, 5.1% (27/526) had atopy, and 16.9% (89/526) had intestinal helminths. There was no association between helminthic infection and self-reported allergic symptoms (P = 0.317), but Ascaris lumbricoides infection was positively associated with atopy (AOR = 4.307, 95% CI 1.143–16.222, P = 0.031). Atopy was related to increased allergy symptoms (AOR = 2.787, 95% CI 1.253–6.197, P = 0.012), and family history of allergy was associated with increased childhood allergy (AOR = 2.753, 95% CI 1.565–4.841, P = 0.001). Deworming in the past 6 months showed a reduced odd of self-reported allergic symptoms (AOR = 0.581, 95% CI 0.366–0.954, P = 0.034). While no significant association between self-reported allergy and helminths was found in this study, this may have been due to the low prevalence and intensity of helminthic infection in the sample. There was a positive association between Ascaris lumbricoides and atopy. To further examine the underlying mechanism behind this positive association, a longitudinal study is needed.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚苏尔鲁塔市大规模驱虫计划的入学儿童肠道蠕虫感染和过敏性疾病

已经提出肠蠕虫对变应性致敏和特应性疾病具有保护作用。但是，在撒哈拉以南国家缺乏一致的数据证明这一点。我们的目的是评估在埃塞俄比亚苏尔塔（Sululta）参加大规模驱虫计划的学童中肠道蠕虫与过敏性疾病之间的关联。在埃塞俄比亚苏拉塔地区初等政府学校的526名5至14岁的学童中进行了横断面研究。向父母发放的由访调员领导的问卷调查提供了有关人口统计和生活方式变量的信息。在驱虫治疗后6个月，使用国际儿童哮喘和过敏研究（ISAAC）问卷收集了有关过敏性疾病症状的问题。特应性被定义为对一种或两种尘螨（Dermatophagoides）和德国蟑螂（Blatella germanica）过敏原呈阳性的皮肤点刺试验反应。通过直接湿式装载，Kato-Katz技术和甲醛-醚浓缩技术收集，处理和检查新鲜的粪便样品。多变量logistic回归用于评估过敏性疾病和蠕虫感染之间的关联。在526名学童中，女性占58.2％。总体而言，有24％（126/526）有过敏症状，有5.1％（27/526）有特应性过敏，有16.9％（89/526）有肠蠕虫。蠕虫感染与自我报告的过敏症状之间没有关联（P = 0.317），但A虫感染与特应性呈正相关（AOR = 4.307，95％CI 1.143–16.222，P = 0.031）。特应性与过敏症状增加有关（AOR = 2.787，95％CI 1.253–6.197，P = 0.012），过敏家族史与儿童过敏增加有关（AOR = 2.753，95％CI 1.565–4.841，P = 0.001 ）。在过去的六个月中，驱虫显示出自我报告的过敏症状几率有所降低（AOR = 0.581，95％CI 0.366-0.954，P = 0.034）。尽管在这项研究中未发现自我报告的过敏与蠕虫之间有显着相关性，但这可能是由于样本中蠕虫感染的发生率和强度较低所致。A虫和特应性之间存在正相关。为了进一步研究这种积极关联背后的潜在机制，需要进行纵向研究。并且过敏的家族史与儿童过敏增加有关（AOR = 2.753，95％CI 1.565–4.841，P = 0.001）。在过去的六个月中，驱虫显示出自我报告的过敏症状几率有所降低（AOR = 0.581，95％CI 0.366-0.954，P = 0.034）。尽管在这项研究中未发现自我报告的过敏与蠕虫之间有显着相关性，但这可能是由于样本中蠕虫感染的发生率和强度较低所致。A虫和特应性之间存在正相关。为了进一步研究这种积极关联背后的潜在机制，需要进行纵向研究。并且过敏的家族史与儿童过敏增加有关（AOR = 2.753，95％CI 1.565–4.841，P = 0.001）。在过去的六个月中，驱虫显示出自我报告的过敏症状几率有所降低（AOR = 0.581，95％CI 0.366-0.954，P = 0.034）。尽管在这项研究中未发现自我报告的过敏与蠕虫之间有显着相关性，但这可能是由于样本中蠕虫感染的发生率和强度较低所致。A虫和特应性之间存在正相关。为了进一步研究这种积极关联背后的潜在机制，需要进行纵向研究。尽管在这项研究中未发现自我报告的过敏与蠕虫之间有显着相关性，但这可能是由于样本中蠕虫感染的发生率和强度较低所致。A虫和特应性之间存在正相关。为了进一步研究这种积极关联背后的潜在机制，需要进行纵向研究。尽管在这项研究中未发现自我报告的过敏与蠕虫之间有显着相关性，但这可能是由于样本中蠕虫感染的发生率和强度较低所致。A虫和特应性之间存在正相关。为了进一步研究这种积极关联背后的潜在机制，需要进行纵向研究。