Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among children of low socioeconomic level in São Paulo
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori infection is mainly acquired during childhood, and is associated with significant morbidity in adults. The aim here was to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors of H. pylori infection among children of low socioeconomic level attended at a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study, among patients attended at an outpatient clinic. METHODS: 326 children were evaluated (150 boys and 176 girls; mean age 6.82 ± 4.07 years) in a cross-sectional study. Patients with chronic diseases or previous H. pylori treatment, and those whose participation was not permitted by the adult responsible for the child, were excluded. The adults answered a demographic questionnaire and blood samples were collected. The serological test used was Cobas Core II, a second-generation test. Titers > 5 U/ml were considered positive. RESULTS: H. pylori infection was diagnosed in 116 children (35.6%). Infected children were older than uninfected children (7.77 ± 4.08 years versus 5.59 ± 3.86 years; p < 0.0001). The seroprevalence increased from 20.8% among children aged two to four years, to 58.3% among those older than 12 years. There were no significant relationships between seropositivity and gender, color, breastfeeding, number of people in the home, number of rooms, bed sharing, living in a shantytown, maternal educational level, family income or nutritional status. In multivariate analysis, the only variable significantly associated with H. pylori seropositivity was age. CONCLUSION: Infection had intermediate prevalence in the study population, and age was associated with higher prevalence.
Main Authors: | Miranda,Aurea Cristina Portorreal, Machado,Rodrigo Strehl, Silva,Edina Mariko Koga da, Kawakami,Elisabete |
---|---|
Format: | Digital revista |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Associação Paulista de Medicina - APM
2010
|
Online Access: | http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-31802010000400002 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Similar Items
-
Low Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection evaluated by stool antigen test in preschool and school children
by: Portorreal,Áurea C, et al.
Published: (2008) -
Avaliação do método imunoenzimático (ELISA) para diagnóstico da infecção por Helicobacter pylori em crianças e adolescentes
by: Portorreal,Aurea, et al.
Published: (2002) -
Decrease in prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection during a 10-year period in Brazilian children
by: Kawakami,Elisabete, et al.
Published: (2008) -
Triple therapy with clarithromycin, amoxicillin and omeprazole for Helicobacter pylori eradication in children and adolescents
by: KAWAKAMI,Elisabete, et al.
Published: (2001) -
Evidence of mother-child transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection
by: Escobar,Mario Luis, et al.
Published: (2004)