Article Publish Status: FREE
Abstract Title:

Allergic disease and atopic sensitization in children in relation to measles vaccination and measles infection.

Abstract Source:

Pediatrics. 2009 Mar;123(3):771-8. PMID: 19255001

Abstract Author(s):

Helen Rosenlund, Anna Bergström, Johan S Alm, Jackie Swartz, Annika Scheynius, Marianne van Hage, Kari Johansen, Bert Brunekreef, Erika von Mutius, Markus J Ege, Josef Riedler, Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer, Marco Waser, Göran Pershagen,

Article Affiliation:

Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Box 210, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. [email protected]

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the role of measles vaccination and measles infection in the development of allergic disease and atopic sensitization.

METHODS: A total of 14 893 children were included from the cross-sectional, multicenter Prevention of Allergy-Risk Factors for Sensitization in Children Related to Farming and Anthroposophic Lifestyle study, conducted in 5 European countries (Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland). The children were between 5 and 13 years of age and represented farm children, Steiner-school children, and 2 reference groups. Children attending Steiner schools often have an anthroposophic (holistic) lifestyle in which some immunizations are avoided or postponed. Parental questionnaires provided information on exposure and lifestyle factors as well as symptoms and diagnoses in the children. A sample of the children was invited for additional tests, and 4049 children provided a blood sample for immunoglobulin E analyses. Only children with complete information on measles vaccination and infection were included in the analyses (84%).

RESULTS: In the whole group of children, atopic sensitization was inversely associated with measles infection, and a similar tendency was seen for measles vaccination. To reduce risks of disease-related modification of exposure, children who reported symptoms of wheezing and/or eczema debuting during first year of life were excluded from some analyses. After this exclusion, inverse associations were observed between measles infection and "any allergic symptom" and "any diagnosis of allergy by a physician." However, no associations were found between measles vaccination and allergic disease.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that measles infection may protect against allergic disease in children.

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