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Subject Area

Anesthesiology and Intensive Care

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective To study the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and to assess potential risk factors and possible complications among children aged 6–12 years. Background H. pylori infection is said to be associated with growth delay in children, resistant iron-deficiency anemia, chronic antral gastritis that is related to duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and probably gastric adenocarcinoma. Participants and methods A cross-sectional study included randomly selected 384 apparently healthy children from whom blood samples were collected after obtaining their parents' written consent. The study included 179 males and 205 females, and their age ranged from 6 to 12 years. Sociodemographic data and history of risk factors were obtained through a questionnaire. For every child, H. pylori antibody in serum was tested using H. pylori Antibody Rapid Test Cassette to detect the overexposure of H. pylori. Results Results of this study showed that prevalence of the overexposure to H. pylori was 45.1%. A significant association was found between each of previous usage of municipal tap water drinking, lack of personal hygiene, and contact with domestic animals and H. pylori infection, whereas there was no significant association between age, sex, or socioeconomic level and H. pylori infection. Conclusion In Menoufia Governorate, the seroprevalence of H. pylori was 45.1%. Tap water, lack of personal hygiene, and contact with domestic animal were major risk factors.

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