RESUMEN
Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] has acquired great importance during the last two decades, after being recognized as an important pathogen that infects a great portion of the human population. This microorganism is recognized as the main causal agent of chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcers, and it is associated with the subsequent development of gastric carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori among patients with dyspepsia referred to Ibn-sina polyclinic for upper gastrointestinal tract [GIT] endoscopy. One hundred and twenty five Libyan patients presented with dyspeptic symptoms referred for upper GIT endoscopy were evaluated retrospectively over a period of 24 months from January 2003 to December 2004. The following data were collected from medical records of Ibn-sina polyclinic [age, sex, indication of endoscopy, upper GIT endoscopic findings, and the histopathology report]. The main endoscopic findings were gastritis [34.3%], hiatal hernia [14.5%], reflux esophagitis [12.5%], erosive gastritis [12.5%], and duodenal ulcer [8.5%]. The main symptom for all patients was abdominal pain [97.6%]. The frequency of H. pylori infection was high among studied patients [84 out of 125, 67.2%].H. pylori infection is common in patients with dyspeptic symptoms referred to Ibn-Sina clinic in Benghazi for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with high prevalence of gastritis, reflux esophagitis, duodenal ulcer, duodenitis and hiatus hernia