The Relationship between BCG Vaccination and Allergic Diseases / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: An increase in the prevalence of allergic diseases in our country as well as countries with a western life style may be due to a decrease in exposure to infectious agents in the early life. The aim of this study is to identify the relationship between BCG vaccination and allergic diseases in school-aged children. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 8,378 elementary school children, in Seoul, Korea. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the independent relationship between BCG vaccination and allergic diseases. RESULTS: The significant associations between BCG vaccination and diagnosis of asthma or current wheeze (adjusted OR: 0.49 [95% CI: 0.29-0.82], 0.51 [0.28-0.93], respectively), all being adjusted by confounding factors. However, there was no association between BCG vaccination and diagnosis of allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis, or current symptoms of allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that BCG vaccination in early childhood may prevent the development of asthma in school-aged children in Seoul, Korea.