FREQUENCY OF HELCIOBACTER PYLORI AMONGST PATIENTS WITH GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT SYMPTOMS

Abstract

Worldwide, H. pylori is recognised as a serious concern for public health that causes peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and chronic gastritis. The frequency of H. pylori infection ranges from 13% to 81%. Globally, H. pylori infection accounts for around 89% of stomach cancer. Objective: To determine the frequency of helicobacter pylori amongst patients with gastrointestinal tract symptoms. Methodology: The current cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Medicine General Hospital Peshawar from September 2023 to February 2024. The overall sample size of the current study was 150 patients. All the patients were assessed for the pylori SAT (Stool antigen test). All the information was gathered on a specialized proforma designed for our research. All the data was analysed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: In the current study, 150 patients were enrolled. Male patients were 100 (66.67%) while female patients were 50 (33.33%), with a ratio of males to females of 1:2. Among 150 patients, 129 (86%) individuals tested positive for H. pylori, whereas 21 (14%) patients tested negative. The enrolled patients' ages ranged from 15 to 85 years with a mean age (SD) of 50.3 (11.01). After analysing the endoscopic reports of patients, it was found that fifteen patients (25%) had chronic gastritis, thirty-five patients (58%) had duodenal ulcers, ten patients (16.6%) had stomach ulcers, and eight patients (13.3%) had non-ulcer dyspepsia. Conclusion: Our study concludes that Helicobacter pylori is the most prevalent problem among patients with gastrointestinal tract symptoms. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are fundamental to avoiding this severe problem.