Toxocara canis y asma bronquial

A fin de evaluar la relacion entre la infeccion por Toxocara canis y los sintomas del asma bronquial en ninos de una region subtropical con alta prevalencia de toxocariosis, se estudiaron 47 ninos con asma y 53 sin asma como grupo control. Se efectuo el examen fisico completo, registrandose datos clinicos y epidemiologicos. En los ninos con asma se categorizo el patron de presentacion, frecuencia y gravedad de los sintomas con una escala de I a IV. Se investigo la presencia de anticuerpos anti-Toxocara canis en ambos grupos mediante el metodo de ELISA en fase solida, empleando antigeno de excrecion/secrecion y se efectuo dosaje de Ig E total. Los resultados muestran una seropositividad del 55% en el total de los ninos, del 57.4% en los ninos con asma y del 52.8% en los controles. En los ninos con sintomatologia mas grave (grado II, III y IV) hubo un 67.7% de seropositivos, mientras que en los ninos con sintomas de grado I la seropositividad fue de 37.5% (p = 0.0470). La infeccion por T. canis actuaria como un co-factor agravante de los sintomas del asma bronquial.(AU) In order to evaluate the association between the infection by Toxocara canis and the symptoms of asthma in children from a subtropical region with high prevalence of toxocariasis, 47 asthmatic children and 53 non-asthmatics as a control group were studied. A complete physical examination was performed and clinical and epidemiological data were registered. In asthmatic children the frequency and severity of symptoms were classified in grades I to IV. The presence of anti-Toxocara canis antibodies in both groups was evaluated employing a solid phase ELISA method with excretion/secretion antigens, and total Ig E was also measured. Results showed a total seropositivity of 55%, 57.4% in children with asthma and 52.8% in the control group. Among asthmatics with severe symptoms (grade II, III and IV), there was a 67.7% of seropositivity while in children with symptoms of grade I there was a 37.5% (p = 0.0470). The infection with T. canis could act as a co-factor increasing the severity of the symptoms of bronchial asthma.(AU)