520Helicobacter pylori infection in parents and their children

Abstract

Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) may be commonly transmitted among family members, especially from parents to their children. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of H.pylori infection in parents and their children. Method The subjects (n = 607) were selected from participants of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study in Okazaki, Japan, which was conducted from November 2018 to March 2019, and their families. Of the 607 subjects, 126 subjects (32 men=fathers, 94 women=mothers) participated in this study with at least one of their children (126 children in total). We defined ‘H.pylori infection+’ as 1) H.pylori antibody titer≥3U/mL or 2) pepsinogen I ≤ 70ng/mL with the ratio of pepsinogen I/II≤3.0 or 3) past eradication of H.pylori or 4) past history of gastric cancer. The prevalence of ‘H.pylori infection+’ was compared with between mothers and fathers who has infected children. Finally, the 94 mothers were divided into two groups according to their birth-year (1936-1963 and 1964-1973), and we compared the prevalence of ‘H.pylori infection+’ in mothers and their children by group. Result The prevalence of ‘H.pylori infection+’ in mothers and fathers was 44 (46.8%) and 9 (28.1%), respectively. 13 (29.5%) of the 44 infected mothers had at least one infected child, but the infected fathers did not have infected children. The prevalence of ‘H.pylori infection+’ in 50 mothers born in 1936-1963 was 28 (56.0%), and 9 (32.1%) of the 28 infected mothers had at least one infected child. The prevalence of ‘H.pylori infection+’ in 44 mothers born in 1964-1973 was 16 (36.4%), and 4 (25.0%) of the 16 infected mothers had at least one infected child. Conclusion In family members, H.pylori may be transmitted mainly from mothers, rather than from fathers, to their children. Key messages Among Japanese, the prevalence of H.pylori infection will decrease with decline of the infection in women.