Inverse association between Helicobacter pylori infection and allergic rhinitis in young Japanese

Abstract

Background and Aim The prevalence of allergic disorders, including asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis has been increasing, and the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been decreasing. Chronic bacterial infection during childhood is reported to protect the development of allergic diseases. The aim of the present study was to identify whether H. pylori infection influences the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, which has become a serious social problem, especially in the developed countries. Methods We initially investigated the association between the prevalence of H. pylori and pollinosis symptoms in 97 healthy volunteers.We had investigated the association between the serum H. pylori–immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies and specific IgE antibodies for pollen, mites, and house dust in 211 consecutive patients. Results There were 52.2% (36/69) of H. pylori-negative volunteers with allergic symptoms, which was significantly higher than H. pylori-positive volunteers (14.3%, 4/28, P <0.05). The risk of pollinosis symptoms by H. pylori infection was 0.148 (95% confidence interval): 0.046–0.475, P <0.05). The prevalence of H. pylori infection increased according to age, whereas that of specific IgE-positive patients gradually decreased. Among the IgE-positive patients, the prevalence of H. pylori-negative patients was significantly higher than H. pylori-positive patients who were younger in age (P <0.05). Conclusion H. pylori infection decreased the pollinosis effects, especially among the younger volunteers. However, the prevalence of pollinosis in patients who were 50 years or older were almost same between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative patients; therefore, the recent increase of pollinosis might relate to not only H. pylori infection, but also change in social environment.

Correlation Between Helicobacter pylori Infection, IgE Hypersensitivity, and Allergic Disease in Korean Adults

“…An inverse tendency found in our subjects younger than 40 years could be explained by previous studies showing that H. pylori infection can prevent the occurrence of allergic disease . There has been an increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases in recent years due to various environmental factors such as air pollution, and a decrease in the prevalence of H. pylori infection due to the development of eradication therapies and improvements in hygiene .…”

Clinical features of eosinophilic esophagitis: Differences between Asian and Western populations

“…This concept is termed the “hygiene hypothesis” and provides a general explanation for the increase in allergic diseases, including EoE, parallel to the decrease in infectious diseases. Of note, early life exposure to H. pylori infection has been inversely associated with conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, and a decrease in H. pylori infections may predispose individuals to various allergic diseases. Recent study has suggested that H. pylori infection is inversely associated with EE .…”

Role of childhood infection in the sequelae of H. pylori disease

“…151 The inverse association between H. pylori and asthma is especially strong in carriers of CagA + strains. 150 The reciprocal relationship between H. pylori infection and allergic diseases in children has been confirmed in residents of other industrialized countries such as Japan and Germany, 152,153 as well non-industrialized countries such as Ethiopia. 154 In addition, we recently detected an inverse correlation between current H. pylori infection and positive skin tests to an array of allergens and the level of serum IgE in children, but not adults, with severe allergies living in Chile.…”