Evaluation of the Relationship Between Childhood Asthma and Helicobacter pylori Sero-Prevalence

Abstract

In recent years, the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis has increased in developed countries. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can exacerbate asthma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between asthma and H. pylori seroprevalence in children. In this cross-sectional study, 100 children aged 5-15 years hospitalized in Besat hospital in Sanandaj were investigated from 2015 to 2016. Fifty children with asthma were considered as the case group and 50 non-asthmatic children as the control group. The questionnaires were completed, including demographic information, history of asthma, exposure to cigarette smoke, and family history of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Blood samples were collected from the children, and the serum level of specific antibodies (IgG) of H. pylori was measured. There were 42 and 31 boys in the case and control group, respectively. The mean age in the case group was 8.12±2.29 and in the control group was 8.9±2.52 years. In the case group, 48% were exposed to cigarette smoke and in the control group, 18%. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of gender and exposure to cigarette smoke (P=0.001 and P=0.013, respectively). There was no significant difference between the case and control groups in terms of H. pylori seroprevalence. (P=0.211). There was no significant association between asthma and H. pylori seroprevalence. (P=0.22). According to our study, there no correlation between childhood asthma and H. pylori seroprevalence. © 2019 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Acta Med Iran 2019;57(5):299-302.