Maternal hookworm modifies risk factors for childhood eczema: results from a birth cohort in Uganda
Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Worms may protect against allergy. Early-life worm exposure may be critical, but this has not been fully investigated. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether worms in pregnancy and in early childhood are associated with childhood eczema incidence. METHODS: The Entebbe Mother and Baby Study, an anthelminthic treatment trial, enrolled pregnant women between 2003 and 2005 in Uganda. Mothers were investigated for worms during pregnancy and children annually. Eczema was doctor-diagnosed from birth to age five years. A planned observational analysis was conducted within the trial cohort to investigate associations between worms and eczema. RESULTS: Data for 2345 live-born children were analysed. Hookworm was the most prevalent maternal worm (45%). Childhood worms were less prevalent. Eczema incidence was 4.68/100 person-years. Maternal hookworm was associated with reduced eczema incidence [adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), p-value: 0.71(0.51-0.99), 0.04] and modified effects of known risk factors for eczema: Dermatophagoides-specific IgE in children was positively associated with eczema incidence if the mother had no hookworm [2.72(1.11-6.63), 0.03], but not if the mother had hookworm [0.41(0.10-1.69), 0.22], interaction p-value = 0.03. Similar interactions were seen for maternal history of eczema {[2.87(1.31-6.27, 0.008) vs. [0.73(0.23-2.30), 0.60], interaction p-value = 0.05}, female gender {[1.82(1.22-2.73), 0.004 vs. [0.96(0.60-1.53), 0.87], interaction p-value = 0.04} and allergen-specific IgE. Childhood Trichuris trichiura and hookworm were inversely associated with eczema. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal hookworm modifies effects of known risk factors for eczema. Mechanisms by which early-life worm exposures influence allergy need investigation. Worms or worm products, and intervention during pregnancy have potential for primary prevention of allergy.
Source: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
DOI: 10.1111/pai.12251
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,435
Funders: Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council
Awards: The impact of helminths on the response to immunisation and on the incidence of infection and disease in childhood in Uganda., G2468189520, G4585562167, Wellcome Trust Bloomsbury Centre for Global Health Research., Helminths and Allergy in Uganda., The impact of helminths on the response to immunisation and on susceptibility to infectious diseases in childhood in Uganda., Wellcome Trust - Cambridge Centre for Global Health Research, G7888718989, Does elimination or prevention of helminth infection lead to an association between socio-economic development and increased incidence of allergic conditions in young children.
OpenAlex ID: W1989791304