[Dyspepsia and Helicobacter pylori infection. A study of a population of workers].

We studied 102 workers in a mechanical factory. All subjects were tested by a questionnaire screening dyspeptic symptoms in the last three months, their frequency, absenteeism period, spontaneous drugs intake and a consultant gastroenterologist request. All subjects were tested for specific IgG against Helicobacter pylori with immunoassay Elisa. Dyspepsia was present in 61% of cases. Positivity for Helicobacter pylori infection was in 76%, absenteeism in 82%, consultant request in 21% of dyspeptic workers. Our results suggest, according to literature, the high frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection in dyspeptic patients: furthermore dyspepsia should be considered as an important cause of absenteeism.