Peptic ulcer disease and helicobacter pylori infection at kano, nigeria.

Abstract

Background. Helicobacter pylori infection has been identified as an important risk factor for the development of peptic ulcer disease and is probably the most important cause of relapse in those previously treated for peptic ulcer disease. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with peptic ulcer disease at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, North-Western Nigeria.Methods. The study was cross sectional and conducted between December 2004 and May 2006. Consecutive patients with endoscopic diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease at the Endoscopy Unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano were recruited. Other patients who had endoscopy within the study period for dyspepsia but with normal endoscopic findings were recruited as controls. Three gastric antral and two body biopsies were taken from each patient, and histological evaluation for presence of Helicobacter pylori was done using haematoxilin/eosin and modified Giemsa stains.Results. The Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infectionin all the study subjects was found to be 81%. Helicobacter pylori were found present in 93.3% of patients with peptic ulcer disease. Presence of H. pylori infection in patients with duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer were 95.8% and 90.9% respectively. However 80% of those with normal endoscopic findings also had Helicobacter pylori infection.Conclusion. Helicobacter pylori infection is very common among patients with peptic ulcer disease in Kano Nigeria. Patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia also have, to a lesser extent a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection.