Helicobacter pylori Infections in Children of a Rural Community

Abstract

Objective: To recognize the various clinical presentations of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections among children of Gizan Community, Saudi Arabia. Design: Case control study. Setting: Local tertiary centre in Gizan District, Saudi Arabia. Participants: In this case control study the number of patients (H. pylori positive) were 120 (52.5% Boys) and the control group patients (H. pylori negative) were 100 cases, aged 7-12 years old (mean 9.9 ± 3 years). The patient and control groups were matched for age, race and sex. All cases were clinically examined for weight, height, iron deficiency (sideropenic) anemia and gastrointestinal (GIT) symptoms. Main Exposures: H. pylori infections were defined by positive H. pylori stool antigen test and Serum IgG or Urea Breath Tests. Main Outcome Measures: All cases were assessed for weight, height, iron deficiency (sideropenic) anemia and GIT symptoms. Results: Recurrent abdominal pain, anorexia and recurrent vomiting were 81(67.5%), 24 (20%) and 15(12.5) % respectively in H. pylori infected patients, compared to 28 (28%), 8 (8%) and 4 (4%) in control group. Weight and height were (20.4 ± 1 kg and 128.1 ± 1 cm) in patients compared to (25.6 ± 1.7 kg and 133.8 ± 2 cm) in control cases. Sideropenic anemia was 36.7 % in patients compared to 15% in control. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Pediatric H. pylori infection not only present with recurrent abdominal pain, anorexia and recurrent vomiting, but also negatively affects the growth of children in various modalities; in particular weight, height and the progressive incidence of iron deficiency anemia.