Allergic symptoms and microflora in schoolchildren

J Adolesc Health. 2004 Aug;35(2):156-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2003.09.018.

Abstract

We studied 867 junior high school children and administered a questionnaire documenting allergic symptoms and environmental variables, and measured Immunoglobulin E serum levels and the immunoglobulin G titers of serum antibody to microflora. A total of 716 subjects were ultimately used for statistics; those with at least two of the following allergic symptoms: asthma, rhinitis, eczema, or food allergy, showed significantly higher IgG titers to Bactroides vulgatus than other groups. This finding suggests that a species of the Bacteroides genus of the intestinal microflora tends to affect the gut issues, but further studies are needed to clarify this.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Bacteria / immunology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Hypersensitivity / microbiology*
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G