ABSTRACT
Background and study aims: Infection with Helicobacter pylori [HP] either in children or in adults is a risk factor for gastric cancer. The Golestan province located in northeast Iran has been known to be a high-risk area for oesophageal and gastric cancers. This study was conducted to assess the epidemiology of this infection in the children of Golestan
Patients and methods: This study was carried out in 2009 on healthy children [1-15 years] of the Golestan province. Serum immunoglobulin G [Ig G] antibody against HP was tested in these children and positive samples were tested for anti-cytotoxin-associated antigen A [anti-CagA] antibody. To assess the relationship between HP infection and the risk of gastric cancer, the Golestan province was divided into high- and low-risk areas based on the incidence rate of gastric cancer. The chi-squared test was used to assess the relationship between variables
Results: Totally, 194 subjects were recruited. The prevalence of HP infection in our area was 50.5%. The prevalence of HP infection was significantly higher in the high-risk than in the low-risk area for stomach cancer [p = 0.004]. The seropositivities of HP [p = 0.03] and CagA [p = 0.04] were significantly lower in children <5 years than in others
Conclusion: Our results showed a high prevalence of HP infection in children of the Golestan province of Iran. We also found a significant positive relationship between childhood HP infection and the risk of gastric cancer. Hence, childhood HP infection may be considered a possible determinant of gastric cancer in this high-risk area. Implementation of preventive programmes may help to reduce the burden of childhood HP infection and, consequently, gastric cancer in this area