BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is common worldwide, but the time of acquisition is unclear. We investigated this issue in a cohort of children selected retrospectively from a population followed up for 21 years. METHODS: We monitored 224 children (99 black, 125 white; 110 male, 114 female) from 1975-76 (ages 1-3 years) to 1995-96. H pylori status was assessed by presence of serum IgG antibodies. FINDINGS: 18 (8.0%) children at age 1-3 years had H pylori antibodies (13% black vs 4% white children, p=0.008). By age 18-23 years, the prevalence of the infection was 24.5% (43% black vs 8% white participants, p< 0.0001). Of the 206 children not infected at baseline, 40 (19%) became infected by age 21-23. The crude incidence rate per year was 1.4% for the whole cohort, ranging from 2.1% at 4-5 years and 1.5% at age 7-9 years to 0.3% at 21-23 years. The seroconversion rate was higher among black than among white children (relative risk 3.3, 95% CI 1.8-6.2, p=0.001). The median age for seroconversion was 7.5 years for both races. Nine of the 58 seropositive children cleared the infection during follow-up. The rate of seroreversion per year was 1.1%; it was highest among children at age 4-5 years (2.2% vs 0.2% at ages 18-19). INTERPRETATION: Most newly acquired H pylori infections happened before age 10 years. Treatment and preventive strategies should be aimed at children in this age-group.
BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection is common worldwide, but the time of acquisition is unclear. We investigated this issue in a cohort of children selected retrospectively from a population followed up for 21 years. METHODS: We monitored 224 children (99 black, 125 white; 110 male, 114 female) from 1975-76 (ages 1-3 years) to 1995-96. H pylori status was assessed by presence of serum IgG antibodies. FINDINGS: 18 (8.0%) children at age 1-3 years had H pylori antibodies (13% black vs 4% white children, p=0.008). By age 18-23 years, the prevalence of the infection was 24.5% (43% black vs 8% white participants, p< 0.0001). Of the 206 children not infected at baseline, 40 (19%) became infected by age 21-23. The crude incidence rate per year was 1.4% for the whole cohort, ranging from 2.1% at 4-5 years and 1.5% at age 7-9 years to 0.3% at 21-23 years. The seroconversion rate was higher among black than among white children (relative risk 3.3, 95% CI 1.8-6.2, p=0.001). The median age for seroconversion was 7.5 years for both races. Nine of the 58 seropositive children cleared the infection during follow-up. The rate of seroreversion per year was 1.1%; it was highest among children at age 4-5 years (2.2% vs 0.2% at ages 18-19). INTERPRETATION: Most newly acquired H pylori infections happened before age 10 years. Treatment and preventive strategies should be aimed at children in this age-group.
Authors: Paolo A Tomasi; Maria P Dore; Giuseppe Fanciulli; Franca Sanciu; Giuseppe Realdi; Giuseppe Delitala Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Hashem B El-Serag; John Y Kao; Fasiha Kanwal; Mark Gilger; Frank LoVecchio; Steven F Moss; Sheila E Crowe; Adam Elfant; Thomas Haas; Ronald J Hapke; David Y Graham Journal: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2018-03-17 Impact factor: 11.382
Authors: Penny B Travis; Karen J Goodman; Kathleen M O'Rourke; Frank D Groves; Debajyoti Sinha; Joyce S Nicholas; Jim VanDerslice; Daniel Lackland; Kristina D Mena Journal: J Water Health Date: 2010-03 Impact factor: 1.744
Authors: A Velasco-Guardado; A Mora-Soler; L López-Corral; O López-Godino; L Vázquez-López; O Blanco-Muñez; E Pérez-López; A Rodríguez-Pérez; D Caballero-Barrigón Journal: Bone Marrow Transplant Date: 2016-03-07 Impact factor: 5.483