People With Periodontal Disease Less Likely To Need Treatment for Allergies, Infections
August 13, 2008
by Nancy Volkers
InteliHealth News Service
INTELIHEALTH - People with periodontal disease are less likely to take prescription drugs for allergies or infections, a study has found.
Researchers looked at the records of 12,631 people. All belonged to the same health maintenance organization. They also had periodontal disease. The records covered seven years.
Compared with people who had mild periodontal disease, people with moderate or severe periodontal disease were:
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36% less likely to take antibiotics for a urinary tract infection
- 24% less likely to take decongestants
- 23% less likely to take antihistamines
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18% less likely to use antibiotic creams or gels
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12% less likely to take cough and cold medicines
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12% less likely to take antibiotic pills
The authors say more research is needed on how periodontal disease, allergies and infections may be related. Few studies have been done in this area.
In 2006, a study of 9,385 people found that some had more antibodies to bacteria that cause periodontal disease. These people also were less likely to wheeze, or to have asthma or hay fever.
In the new study, researchers said their results supported the "hygiene hypothesis." This idea says that people who are less exposed to germs early in life are more likely to have allergies. So people who have been exposed to infections – including periodontal disease – might be less likely to have allergies.
The 2006 study and the new one were conducted in adults or older children (at least 12 years old). But the bacteria that cause periodontal disease have been found in more than 35% of children. Some were as young as 3 weeks old.
The recent study appears in the August issue of the Journal of Periodontology.
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