Why the study?
Does prior infection with hepatitis A (as a marker of early childhood infections) reduce the prevalence of atopy in young men?
Population
1,659 male military students aged 17-24 (mean age 20.7), mostly from central and southern Italy.
Comparison
Hepatitis A seropositivity vs Hepatitis A seronegativity
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
Loading...
Supports hygiene hypothesis via inverse atopy association; hypothesis-generating and should not change practice.
Does prior infection with hepatitis A (as a marker of early childhood infections) reduce the prevalence of atopy in young men?
Hepatitis A seropositivity is inversely associated with atopy, providing indirect evidence for the hygiene hypothesis that common infections acquired early in life may reduce the risk of developing allergic diseases.
Matricardi et al. (1997) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 4 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: