PERTUSSIS INFECTION AND ALLERGIC SENSITIZATION

Background: The immunogenic activity of B. pertussis infection has bee n described in various laboratory, animal, and clinical studies. There is, however, no information on the impact of pertussis on allergies i n the total population. Objective: To compare the prevalence of allerg ic sensitization and allergic rhinitis in children with and without pr evious pertussis infection. Methods: A population-based, cross-section al study was carried out on 13,937 10-year-old children in the western (Munich and Southern Bavaria) and eastern parts of Germany (Leipzig a nd the region around Halle). A total of 11,969 questionnaires (85.9%) given to the parents were collected. Data from 9,484 German children ( questionnaire and skin prick tests with six different allergens) were analyzed. Results: Pertussis was much more common in the western than in the eastern part of Germany. The adjusted odds ratio for any allerg ic sensitization after pertussis was only slightly increased in wester n Germany with 1.3 (95% confidence limits 1.2 to 1.5) and in eastern G ermany with 1.5, (1.2 to 1.8) but not for allergic rhinitis with 1.0 ( 0.7 to 1.4) and in Eastern Germany 1.3 (0.8 to 1.9). Conclusions: Infe ction with pertussis seems to have only a weak influence on allergic s ensitization and does not explain the observed differences in allergic sensitization between western and eastern Germany.