Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Helicobacter pylori-infection status and childhood living conditions are associated with signs of allergic diseases in an occupational population

  • Allergy
  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study assessed the hypothesis that Helicobacter pylori infection and specific living conditions in childhood are associated with allergic outcomes. A cross-sectional survey containing retrospective questions concerning childhood was performed in an occupational population in 2001. This survey included self-administered questionnaire data and stool tests. An inverse association between positive H. pylori infection status and physician diagnosis of allergy/12 month period of anti-allergic medication was observed in a logistic regression model, adjusted for potential confounders (age, sex, nationality, smoking status and education of the participant) (OR 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08–0.84). In addition, childhood living conditions were associated with H. pylori infection status and signs of allergies. In line with the “hygiene hypothesis” our model supports an inverse association between early childhood infection with H. pylori and allergic disease in adulthood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

EIA:

Enzyme-immuno-assay

Ig:

Immunoglobulin

IL:

Interleukin

Th:

T-helper

OR:

Odds ratio

References

  1. Worldwide variation in prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema: ISAAC. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Steering Committee. Lancet 1998;351:1225–32. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(97)07302-9.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bach JF. The effect of infections on susceptibility to autoimmune and allergic diseases. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:911–20. doi:10.1056/NEJMra020100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Strachan DP. Hay fever, hygiene, and household size. BMJ. 1989;299:1259–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Chelimsky G, Czinn SJ. Helicobacter pylori infection in children: update. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2000;12:460–2. doi:10.1097/00008480-200010000-00007.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hofman P, Waidner B, Hofman V, et al. Pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Helicobacter. 2004;9(Suppl 1):15–22. doi:10.1111/j.1083-4389.2004.00246.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Lohoff M, Rollinghoff M, Sommer F. Helicobacter pylori gastritis: a Th1 mediated disease? J Biotechnol. 2000;83:33–6. doi:10.1016/S0168-1656(00)00295-9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Yazdanbakhsh M, Kremsner PG, van Ree R. Allergy, parasites, and the hygiene hypothesis. Science. 2002;296:490–4. doi:10.1126/science.296.5567.490.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kramer A, Prufer-Kramer L, Stock C, Tshiananga JT. Differences in health determinants between international and domestic students at a German university. J Am Coll Health. 2004;53:127–32. doi:10.3200/JACH.53.3.127-132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sheikh A, Strachan DP. The hygiene theory: fact or fiction? Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;12:232–6. doi:10.1097/01.moo.0000122311.13359.30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Akhiani AA. The role of type-specific antibodies in colonization and infection by Helicobacter pylori. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2005;18:223–7. doi:10.1097/01.qco.0000168382.86024.14.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Yazdanbakhsh M, Kremsner PG, van Ree R. Allergy, parasites, and the hygiene hypothesis. Science. 2002;296:490–4. doi:10.1126/science.296.5567.490.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Epidemiology of, and risk factors for, Helicobacter pylori infection among 3194 asymptomatic subjects in 17 populations. The EUROGAST Study Group. Gut 1993;34:1672–6. doi:10.1136/gut.34.12.1672.

  13. Banatvala N, Mayo K, Megraud F, et al. The cohort effect and Helicobacter pylori. J Infect Dis. 1993;168:219–21.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McCallion WA, Murray LJ, Bailie AG, et al. Helicobacter pylori infection in children: relation with current household living conditions. Gut. 1996;39:18–21. doi:10.1136/gut.39.1.18.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wizla-Derambure N, Michaud L, Ategbo S, et al. Familial and community environmental risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2001;33:58–63. doi:10.1097/00005176-200107000-00010.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. McCune A, Lane A, Murray L, et al. Reduced risk of atopic disorders in adults with Helicobacter pylori infection. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2003;15:637–40. doi:10.1097/00042737-200306000-00010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Pessi T, Virta M, Adjers K, et al. Genetic and environmental factors in the immunopathogenesis of atopy: interaction of Helicobacter pylori infection and IL4 genetics. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2005;137:282–8. doi:10.1159/000086421.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Chen Y, Blaser MJ. Inverse associations of Helicobacter pylori with asthma and allergy. Arch Intern Med. 2007;167:821–7. doi:10.1001/archinte.167.8.821.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Bodner C, Anderson WJ, Reid TS, Godden DJ. Childhood exposure to infection and risk of adult onset wheeze and atopy. Thorax. 2000;55:383–7. doi:10.1136/thorax.55.5.383.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Uter W, Stock C, Pfahlberg A, et al. Association between infections and signs and symptoms of ‘atopic’ hypersensitivity—results of a cross-sectional survey among first-year university students in Germany and Spain. Allergy. 2003;58:580–4. doi:10.1034/j.1398-9995.2003.00102.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Gilliland FD, Li YF, Peters JM. Effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy and environmental tobacco smoke on asthma and wheezing in children. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001;163:429–36.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Behrens T. Allergic disease and the pre- and perinatal environment. Eur J Epidemiol. 2003;18:739–41. doi:10.1023/A:1025309614219.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Blumer N, Herz U, Wegmann M, Renz H. Prenatal lipopolysaccharide-exposure prevents allergic sensitization and airway inflammation, but not airway responsiveness in a murine model of experimental asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 2005;35:397–402. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02184.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Maziak W. The asthma epidemic and our artificial habitats. BMC Pulm Med. 2005;5:5. doi:10.1186/1471-2466-5-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Johann Ilan Gips for medical support of the participants and Dr. Sanchaita Sonar for critical review of the manuscript. The survey was funded by a FiF-grant of the University of Bielefeld. Dr. Petra Ina Pfefferle is a member of the SFB/Transregio22 “Allergic responses of the lung” funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Biomedical Research Center, University of Marburg, Hans-Meerweinstr. 2, Marburg, 35043, Germany

    Petra Ina Pfefferle

  2. Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany

    Alexander Krämer

Authors
  1. Petra Ina Pfefferle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alexander Krämer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Petra Ina Pfefferle.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pfefferle, P.I., Krämer, A. Helicobacter pylori-infection status and childhood living conditions are associated with signs of allergic diseases in an occupational population. Eur J Epidemiol 23, 635–640 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-008-9276-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-008-9276-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation