Protective factors associated with atopy or asthma in rural areas include socioeconomic level, overcrowding, and helminth infection. However, little epidemiological information was originated from schistosomiasis areas. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with asthma in a schistosomiasis endemic area. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographics, socioeconomic, and environmental features. The ISAAC questionnaire was used to identify individuals with asthma. Parasitological exam was done in all participants and skin prick test to aeroallergens in all asthmatics. Prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection was 57.4% and Ascaris lumbricoides, 30.8%. Asthma was found in 13.1% of the population, and 35.1% of them had a positive SPT. Active and passive smoking was positively associated with asthma, whereas A. lumbricoides was negatively associated. In a schistosomiasis hyperendemic region, current infection with A. lumbricoides is protective against asthma. However, we cannot rule out the involvement of S. mansoni infection in this process. 1. Introduction Asthma is the most outstanding allergic disease especially in developed countries [1, 2]. However, in developing countries the frequency of asthma is much lower, particularly in rural areas, where the prevalence of parasite infection is high [3–5]. Factors associated with protection against atopy in rural populations include reduced socioeconomic level, poor living conditions, and increased overcrowding [6]. Moreover, several studies have shown a protective role of different parasites in the development of asthma or atopy [6–10]. Studies conducted in Venezuela have shown that geohelminth infections is associated with high levels of total IgE and low levels of allergen-specific IgE, as well as suppression of allergic reactivity, which is reversible by anthelmintic treatment [11, 12]. Other authors have also shown low prevalence of positive skin prick test (SPT) for aeroallergens in endemic areas for geohelminths [7, 13] or Schistosoma spp. [9, 14]. We have previously reported that asthmatic individuals living in regions with high frequency of S. mansoni infection have a mild course of asthma [15], and that treatment for schistosomiasis leads to a worsening of the clinical manifestations of asthma [3]. It is noteworthy that in these previous studies conducted with S. mansoni infected patients, symptoms of asthma or frequency of positive SPT was compared to individuals from outside schistosomiasis endemic areas. The immunological mechanisms involved with protection against the
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