Evaluation of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection in Asthmatic Children and Its Relationship With Severity of the Disease

Abstract

Background . Asthma is one of the most common diseases in the world that affects more than 300 million people worldwide. Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common infection worldwide and its colonization in the gastric mucosa releases acute phase proteins that may reveal the pathogenic relationship between the infection and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate of H.pylori infection in asthmatic children and its relationship with the severity of asthma. Methods . In this case-control study, 94 patients (aged 2 to 18 years) were divided in two equal groups of asthmatic and non-asthmatic patients. H.pylor i infection was assessed in two groups using serum anti- Helicobacter pylori antibody (IgG). Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. Chi-square test and T-test were performed. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results . 36.2% of cases in asthmatic group and 48.9% of cases in control group had positive H.pylori test (P=0. 211). There was a significant relationship between H.pylor i infection and the duration of asthma (P=0.002), as well as the age of patients (P=0.04). There was no significant relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection with patients’ gender severity of asthma, family history of asthma and pulmonary function tests. Conclusion . Results of this study showed that the incidence of H.pylori infection was lower in asthmatic children than the control group but this difference was not statistically significant. Also, there was a significant relationship between H.pylori infection with duration of asthma and age of the patients.