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. 2000 Aug;55(8):762-6.
doi: 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2000.00657.x.

The association between atopy and asthma in a semirural area of Tanzania (East Africa)

J Sunyer  1 , J Torregrosa, J M Anto, C Menendez, C Acosta, D Schellenberg, P L Alonso, E Kahigwa
Affiliations

The association between atopy and asthma in a semirural area of Tanzania (East Africa)

J Sunyer et al. Allergy. 2000 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Atopy is consistently associated with asthma, except in a study in Africa. We assessed the association between atopy and asthma in women from a semirural area of Tanzania (East Africa).

Methods: All pregnant women delivering at the district hospital during a 1-year period were recruited (n = 658, 60.6% of those selected). Asthma was investigated by a standard questionnaire and atopy by specific IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p 1) and cockroach.

Results: The prevalence of wheezing chest was 10.7%; of asthma, 3.5%. Levels of specific IgE of >0.35 kU/l (73%) and high levels of total IgE (62% higher than 1000 kU/l) were highly prevalent. Specific IgE antibody levels in sera were not associated with asthma (3.8% of women with negative specific IgE to any antigen had asthma in comparison to 4.0% of women with positive specific IgE; odds ratio [OR] = 1.06, 0.35-3.22). Total IgE was not different between women with asthma and women without asthma (P=0.36).

Conclusions: In tropical regions, the association between allergy and asthma is complex, and specific IgE reactivity to environmental allergens may not be related to asthma.

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Comment in

  • Atopy and allergy in East Africa.
    Bousquet J. Bousquet J. Allergy. 2001 Feb;56(2):189. doi: 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2001.056002189.x. Allergy. 2001. PMID: 11167383 No abstract available.

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