Helicobacter pylori colonization is inversely associated with childhood asthma.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional analysis of national survey data
PubMed 18598192 · doi:10.1086/590158
What was done
Cross-sectional analysis of 7,412 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2000 to assess the association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and childhood asthma and related allergic conditions.
What was found
Among participants aged 3–19 years, H. pylori seropositivity was inversely associated with ever having had asthma (OR 0.69; 95% CI, 0.45–1.06) and significantly inversely associated with asthma onset before age 5 years (OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.38–0.88). In children aged 3–13 years, H. pylori seropositivity was significantly inversely associated with current asthma (OR 0.41; 95% CI, 0.24–0.69). Seropositivity was also inversely related to recent wheezing, allergic rhinitis, and dermatitis, eczema, or rash.
Why it matters
This study was the first to report an inverse association between H. pylori seropositivity and childhood asthma, supporting hypotheses that early commensal or indigenous microbial exposures may protect against allergic airway diseases.
Limits
The cross-sectional design cannot establish temporality or causality. The abstract does not detail specific adjustment for potential confounders such as socioeconomic factors or antibiotic use, and asthma history relied on survey responses.
Cited by
- supports There is an inverse correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and the incidence of childhood asthma.