Changes in Ige, histamine and esinophils in laryngotracheobronchitis

ABSTRACT

The present study included 45 children aged 1.5-5 years with laryngotracheobronchitis [the most common form of croup] 15 of them suffered from a single attack and the remaining 30 suffered from recurrent attacks of the disease. The study also included 20 children with bronchial asthma aged 3-6 years and 20 apparently healthy children aged 1-6 years as controls. Plasma IgE and histamine levels and blood esinophil count were significantly higher in laryngotracheobronchitis and asthma children than in controls. Asthma children showed a significantly higher plasma IgE, plasma histamine and blood esinophil count than those with laryngotracheobronchitis. No significant difference could be found in the levels of plasma IgE, plasma histamine and blood esinophil count between children with a single attack and those with recurrent attacks of laryngotracheobronchitis. Changes of plasma IgE, plasma histamine and blood esinophil count in children with laryngotracheobronchitis appear to be related to the basic underlying pathology rather than to allergy