Abstract : ABSTRACT
The prevalence of atopic diseases in developed countries has increased in recent years. The reasons for this increase are not clear. It is assumed that the decrease in infections and immunization programs may have contributed to the increase in the prevalence of atopic diseases. The aim of the present study was to examine whether there is a correlation between atopy and exposure to tuberculosis in addition to the factors that affect the correlations if any. A total of 93 cases followed up with “atopic asthma” diagnosis were included to the study as the atopy group and 111 healthy individuals were included as the control group. All cases were evaluated for atopic symptoms (skin, nasal and ocular complaints), allergy tests, eosinophilia and total IgE level, respiratory function test, PPD Test. It was observed when all cases were evaluated that the atopic symptoms (skin, nasal and ocular complaints), allergy tests, eosinophilia and total IgE levels were higher at a statistically significant level in comparison with those of the control group (p<0.05). PPD positivity ratios in the atopy and control groups were determined respectively as (35.4 %, 78.4 %), mean PPD values as (8.12±6.05 mm, 14.59±6.58 mm) and PPD response levels as (≤10mm, ≥11mm) and the difference between the 2 groups was observed to be statistically significant (p<0.05). In conclusion, it was considered that there is an inverse correlation between atopy and tuberculosis exposure and that subclinical exposure to tuberculosis reduces atopy development.
Keyword : Atopic diseases, BCG vaccine, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, tuberculin responses.