Atopy, asthma, and antibodies to Ascaris among rural and urban children in Kenya.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in the relationship between asthma and immune responses to allergens in children living in rural and urban areas of Kenya.

Study Design: Children (mean age, 11 years) from Kabati (n = 136), a rural village, and Thika (n = 129), a small town, were studied by skin testing and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody measurement. Asthma was evaluated by symptoms, as well as spirometry before and after vigorous exercise to test for exercised-induced bronchospasm (EIB).