Anti-Ascaris IgE as a Risk Factor for Asthma Symptoms among 5-Year-Old Children in Rural Bangladesh with Even Decreased Ascaris Infection Prevalence.

The anti-Ascaris IgE levels in wheezing and never-wheezing children in the current study significantly decreased concurrently with Ascaris infection prevalence compared with their corresponding values in 2001. The contribution of anti-Ascaris IgE to wheezing also dropped from 26% in 2001 to 11% in the current study. Despite significant decreases in the levels and the seroprevalence and its contribution to wheezing, anti-Ascaris IgE remained significantly associated with increased risk of wheezing. Anti-Ascaris IgE significantly increased the risk of wheezing in a general population with a mild to moderate Ascaris infection prevalence, suggesting robustness as a risk factor and a possible dose-response relationship.