Background The immune system in human develops when they are exposed to severe helminth infections. Chronic soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection can modulate and suppress allergic reactions particularly by changing the responses from the immune effector. This study observed how STH infections are correlated with allergic reactions as determined by skin prick test (SPT).  Methodology Fourty-five primary school children with recurrent STH infections (determined by at least two positive results in 4-monthly Kato Katz examination over a year period) who received periodic treatment from Mandailing Natal, were classified as case, and 45 primary school students with no history of STH infections from Medan were classified as control in this study. Positive SPT occurred among 27% and 89% of children in the case and control groups (OR 22, 95% CI 7.032-68.827), respectively. No history of helminthiasis, history of allergy, history of parent's allergies, and history of sibling's allergies were associated with increased risks of positive SPT. Conclusion Our findings supported the hygiene hypothesis, where decreased exposure to infectious disease pathogens and decreased diversity of microbial exposures in the environment increases the prevalence of allergies, and anthelminthic treatment show limited effect in reversing the protective effect of STH infections to allergies.

Escherichia coli was one of the bacteria that causes diarrhea. Matoa leaves (Pometia pinnata J.R. Forst & G. Forst) ) is a plant from the Sapindaceae family and is known to have antibacterial compounds. This study aims to make ethanol extract of matoa leaves into extract nanoparticles and to determine the antibacterial activity of ethanol extract nanoparticles better than ethanol extract of matoa leaves against E. coli bacteria. This research was conducted experimentally with free variables, namely the concentration of matoa leaf ethanol extract (KEDM 25%; KEDM 50%; and KEDM 75%), and the nanoparticle concentration of matoa leaf ethanol extract (KNDM 2.5%; KNDM 5%; and KNDM 7.5%). The bound variable was the antibacterial activity of ethanol extract and nanoparticles of ethanol extract of matoa leaves against E. coli bacteria. Nanoparticle manufacturing uses the ionic glassing method with chitosan 0.1% and Na-TPP 0.1% (1:1). The nanoparticle size characterization of the extract used a Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). Antibacterial activity test using the diffusion method of Kirby Bauer's agar. The result of the characterization of the extract nanoparticles obtained a size of 324.97 nm. The value of the antibacterial Zone Of Inhibition (ZOI) of matoa leaf ethanol extract was 13.9 mm (KEDM 25%); 14.6 mm (KEDM 50%); and 18 mm (KEDM 75%). The antibacterial ZOI value of the ethanol extract nanoparticles was 6.6 mm (KNDM 2.5%); 7.2 mm (KNDM 5%); and 7.7 mm (KNDM 7.5%). The conclusion of this research was that matoa leaf ethanol extract can be used as an extract nanoparticle, where with a concentration of 2.5% extract nanoparticles already has antibacterial activity capability which is equivalent to half the dose of 25% ethanol extract concentration of matoa leaves, so it can be said that the extract nanoparticle preparation can reduce the dose of a drug by up to half the dose, even though it is in the resistant category compared to Tetracycline 30 μg.

Streptococcus mutans is one of the bacteria that plays an important role in the formation of dental caries. One of the plants known to have antibacterial compounds are matoa leaves (Pometia pinnata J.R. Forst & G. Forst) family Sapindaceae. The objective of this research was to determine the antibacterial activity of matoa leaves ethanolic extract nanoparticles is better than matoa leaves ethanolic extract against S. mutans bacteria. The research method was carried out experimentally. Free variables, namely the concentration of matoa leaf ethanol extract (KEDM 25% ; KEDM 50%; and KEDM 75%) and the concentration of nanoparticles of matoa leaf ethanol extract (KNDM 2.5%; KNDM 5%; and KNDM 7.5%). Bound variables are antibacterial activity of ethanol extract and nanoparticles of matoa leaf ethanol extract against S. mutans bacteria. The nanoparticle size of the extract was characterized using a Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). Test of antibacterial activity of ethanol extract and matoa leaf ethanol extract nanoparticles against S. mutans using the diffusion method to Kirby Bauer. The result of the extract nanoparticle size characterization was 324.97 nm. Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) values of antibacterial ethanol extract of matoa leaves against S. mutans were 12.00 mm (KEDM 25%), 12.50 mm (KEDM 50%), and 12.60 mm (KEDM 75%). The antibacterial ZOI values of matoa leaf ethanol extract nanoparticles against S. mutans were 8.00 mm (KNDM 2.5%), 9.06 mm (KNDM 5%), and 10.10 mm (KNDM 7.5%). The conclusion is that ethanol extract of matoa leaves can be used as extract nanoparticles, where the extract nanoparticle concentration of 7.5% already has the ability of antibacterial activity that is close to the concentration of 25% ethanol extract, so that it can be said that the extract nanoparticle preparation can reduce the dose of a drug even though it is in the resistant category compared to Amoxicillin 25 g with the susceptible category.