Helicobacter pylori infection and gastritis in healthy Nigerians.

In a study of forty asymptomatic volunteers from northern Nigeria; 35 (87.5%) had histological gastritis and 32 (80%) were infected by Helicobacter pylori. All but one of the patients infected by Helicobacter Pylori had histological gastritis. This high prevalence of H. Pylori infection in young, asymptomatic subjects, occurs in an area with a low prevalence of duodenal ulcer. The possible reasons for this are discussed.