BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is mainly acquired in childhood. Although adult studies reported a high prevalence of H. pylori infection in Portugal, the actual rate in children remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the incidence of H. pylori infection in an asymptomatic pediatric population of the Lisbon area and to correlate prevalence with sociodemographic determinants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Helicobacter pylori infection was determined by stool antigen test in 844 asymptomatic children (age 0-15 years; 49.4% boys). For the incidence study, H. pylori-negative children in the prevalence study were followed-up every 6 months over a 3-year period. RESULTS: The global prevalence of H. pylori infection was 31.6%, increasing with age (19.9, 37.0 and 51.5%, in age groups 0-5, 6-10, and 11-15, respectively), but was similar among genders (34.5% in boys and 28.4% in girls). Older age and attendance of nursery/kindergarten during preschool constituted independent risk factors. The overall estimated incidence was 11.6 per 100 child-years (CY). Although 47.5% of children acquired H. pylori infection before 5 years of age, the mean age of acquisition was 6.3. The incidence of infection was similar among the three age groups (11.5, 13.0, and 10.5 per 100 CY, in age groups 0-5, 6-10, and 11-15, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in the Portuguese pediatric population is still high. Although this study confirmed that the highest acquisition rate occurs at young age, it showed that in high-prevalence populations, older children can also acquire H. pylori infection at a rate similar to that of young children.
BACKGROUND:Helicobacter pylori is mainly acquired in childhood. Although adult studies reported a high prevalence of H. pyloriinfection in Portugal, the actual rate in children remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the incidence of H. pyloriinfection in an asymptomatic pediatric population of the Lisbon area and to correlate prevalence with sociodemographic determinants. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Helicobacter pyloriinfection was determined by stool antigen test in 844 asymptomatic children (age 0-15 years; 49.4% boys). For the incidence study, H. pylori-negative children in the prevalence study were followed-up every 6 months over a 3-year period. RESULTS: The global prevalence of H. pyloriinfection was 31.6%, increasing with age (19.9, 37.0 and 51.5%, in age groups 0-5, 6-10, and 11-15, respectively), but was similar among genders (34.5% in boys and 28.4% in girls). Older age and attendance of nursery/kindergarten during preschool constituted independent risk factors. The overall estimated incidence was 11.6 per 100 child-years (CY). Although 47.5% of children acquired H. pyloriinfection before 5 years of age, the mean age of acquisition was 6.3. The incidence of infection was similar among the three age groups (11.5, 13.0, and 10.5 per 100 CY, in age groups 0-5, 6-10, and 11-15, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of H. pyloriinfection in the Portuguese pediatric population is still high. Although this study confirmed that the highest acquisition rate occurs at young age, it showed that in high-prevalence populations, older children can also acquire H. pyloriinfection at a rate similar to that of young children.
Authors: Inês Vitoriano; Kathy D Saraiva-Pava; Alexandra Rocha-Gonçalves; Andrea Santos; Ana I Lopes; Mónica Oleastro; Mónica Roxo-Rosa Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-10-19 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Nuno Almeida; Maria Manuel Donato; José Manuel Romãozinho; Cristina Luxo; Olga Cardoso; Maria Augusta Cipriano; Carol Marinho; Alexandra Fernandes; Carlos Calhau; Carlos Sofia Journal: BMC Gastroenterol Date: 2015-02-15 Impact factor: 3.067
Authors: Bodo Linz; Helen M Windsor; John P Gajewski; Caylie M Hake; Daniela I Drautz; Stephan C Schuster; Barry J Marshall Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-12-10 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Adefunke O Babatola; Felix O Akinbami; Olugbenga O Adeodu; Temitope O Ojo; Martins O Efere; Oladele S Olatunya Journal: Afr Health Sci Date: 2019-06 Impact factor: 0.927