The association of intestinal helminth infections with the risk for development of allergic/atopic diseases: A meta-analysis
Abstract
The hygiene hypothesis proposes that the growing incidence of allergic diseases in developed countries is a result of increased hygiene which results in decreased exposure to infections. In contrast, increased exposure to infections like helminths in developing countries results in fewer incidences of allergic/atopic diseases. The principal aim for conducting this study was to investigate the association between intestinal helminth infections and the risk for development of allergic/atopic diseases in the infected population using a quantitative meta-analytic approach. Data from six studies were pooled to calculate the odds ratio using the DerSimonian and Lairds random effects model. The results of this analysis indicate no evidence of statistically significant association between intestinal helminth infections and allergic/atopic diseases in infected developing country populations. It is concluded that in view of insufficient evidence more epidemiological and intervention studies with well defined criteria are urgently needed.
Subject Area
Epidemiology
Recommended Citation
Girde, Sacchidanand Ramkrishna, "The association of intestinal helminth infections with the risk for development of allergic/atopic diseases: A meta-analysis" (2006). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI1436527.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI1436527