Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and serum ferritin level in primary school children in Tehran-Iran

Iron deficiency can cause cognitive and functional learning disorders in children. Some studies have reported a relationship between low serum ferritin levels in patients with anemia and Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection. Therefore, we aimed to determine the relationship between these two common diseases. This descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was performed to assess serum ferritin levels and H. pylori antibody titers [IgG] among 6-12 year old healthy primary school children in Tehran during the academic year 2005-2006. Specimen collection was done by cluster and randomization methods [multistage sampling]. Personal information and laboratory results were compiled in questionnaires and data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical statistics via SPSS software. 165 primary school children [43% boys, 57% girls] with mean age 9.2 +/- 1.5 years were enrolled in the study. H. pylori IgG antibody titer was positive in 26% of cases with mean values of 0.79 +/- 0.42 units in boys and 0.75 +/- 0.39 units in girls, which showed a significant statistical difference [P=0.004]. H. pylori infection was more common among children of large families or those with low economic status [P=0.002]. 29% of children had low serum ferritin levels. Out of the children with low serum ferritin levels, 71% and 28% had negative and positive anti H. pylori antibody titers [IgG levels], respectively. Also, 296 children [25%] with normal ferritin levels had H. pylori infection. We did not find a significant relationship between H. pylori infection and low serum ferritin levels or iron deficiency anemia

[Clinical and paraclinical findings in shigellosis]

Shigella infections are one of the major causes of diarrhea worldwide and especially in developing countries. This study was conducted to investigate clinical symptoms, predisposing factors and effective antibiotic regimens in children hospitalized for clinical dysentery. Children older than 6 months admitted for gastroentritis in Bahrami hospital in Tehran from September 1998 to September 2001 with a positive fecal culture for Shigella were included in this study. The data was gathered from patients' records. From 173 patients, 46.2% were females mostly aged 2-5 years. More than 50% of patients were admitted in summer. The frequency of anemia was 31.8% and 34.7% were under the median growth curve. Except diarrhea, the most frequent clinical manifestations of shigellosis were fever [98.2%], dehydration [87.2%] and convulsion [68.2%]. 135 [78%] patients received Nalidixic acid and the rest was treated with ceftriaxone as the first choice because of their poor condition on admission. Nine [5.2%] patients died with Ekiri syndrome and sepsis manifestation despite antimicrobial treatment. The mortality rate in this study was higher than in other studies. Fifty-six percent of mortality cases was due to Ekiri syndrome and the remainder was due to sepsis in children less than 1 year old. We found no specific clinical symptom or sign for shiglosis