Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among healthy children in Minoufyia governorate

ABSTRACT

Helicobacter Pylori [H. Pylori] infection has a wide spread distribution, but the prevalence varies between developed and developing countries. This variability in prevalence rate can be explained by the difference in socioeconomic status. To determine the seroprevalence of Helicobacter Pylori infection among apparently healthy infants and children living in Minoufyia governorate and belonging to various social classes, also to assess the local risk factors influencing the prevalence of H. Pylori infection. This study was carried out on 300 apparently healthy infants and children [176 male, 124 female] attending primary health care centers and basic schools in Minoufyia govemorate. Cases were subjected to history sheet, and thorough clinical examination to exclude any systemic disease. Serum samples were taken and assayed for the presence of Anti-Helicobacter Pylori antibody [IgG] measured by Enzyme Linked Immunsorbant Microassay test [ELISA]. The overall H. Pylori seroprevalence in cases of the study were 51% [153/300] and frequency of seropositive cases increased highly significantly with advance of age. On studying risk factors for acquisition of H. Pylori infection in our cases, we found a significant difference between seropositive and seronegative cases regarding [socioeconomic status, family income, breastfeeding, educational arid occupational status of parents and cases who had not owned domestic animals]. On the other hand, we found non-significant difference between seropositive and seronegative cases concerning [Sex, water supply, and family history of gastric troubles]. Prevalence was significantly higher among cases of farmers compared to those of blue collar and white-collar workers. Moreover cases living in white-collar families had a lower risk of being positive for H. Pylori infection. Studying dietary factors, we found that high salty food, low fruits and low milk intake were risk factors while there was no significant difference regarding [high vegetables, fish, chicken, been, rice and cheese] intake. In a trial to study effect of H. Pylori on growth, we found only a significant difference in height between infected and non-infected children in those cases older than 8 years up to 13 years compared to the other two age groups. Moreover, no significant difference in the centile value for weight was detected between infected and non-infected cases among the three age groups. Helicobacter Pylori is acquired in early childhood and there's gradual Seroconversion [cumulative- seroconversion], as the prevalence increased with age. Prevalence of H. pylori infection in Minoufiya is high, and there were many risk factors influencing the prevalence of H. Pylori infection in children, however other factors requiring wider scale studies for confirmation