The significance of selected epidemiologico-clinical factors in the prevalence of the Helicobacter pylori infection in young males.

A serological diagnosis (ELISA test) was carried out of infections by Helicobacter pylori in 1200 young males (recruits in the Polish Army) and the influence of selected epidemiologico-clinical factors (civil status, place of residence, profession, economical conditions, tobacco smoking, consumption of alcohol, diseases of the parodontonium, nutritional habits) on the prevalence of the infection was studied. Specific antibodies were detected in 228 (19%) of the persons tested. Of the eight factors analyzed, only three parodontium diseases, tobacco smoking and place of residence (of decreasing importance in that order), had a statistically significant relationship to infection by Helicobacter pylori in young males.