Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization in HIV-infected, highly active antiretroviral therapy-naïve Ugandan children aged 0-12 years.MethodsIn a hospital-based survey, 236 HIV-infected children were tested for H. pylori colonization using a faecal antigen test. A standardized interview with socio-demographic information and medical history was used to assess risk factors. A cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell percentage was prevalent in most children.ResultsThe overall prevalence of H. pylori in the HIV-infected children was 22.5%. Age-specific prevalence was as follows: up to one year, 14.7%; 1-3 years, 30.9%; and 3-12 years, 20.7%. HIV-infected children who were more seriously affected by their disease (low CD4 cell percentage or WHO clinical stage II-IV) were less likely to be colonized with H. pylori. There was a trend for a lower prevalence of H. pylori in children who had taken antibiotics for the preceding two weeks (21.6%) than in those who had not taken antibiotics (35.7%). There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence by gender, housing, congested living, education of the female caretaker, drinking water or toilet facilities.ConclusionsHIV-infected, HAART-naïve Ugandan children had a lower prevalence of H. pylori colonization compared with apparently healthy Ugandan children (44.3%). Children with a low CD4 cell percentage and an advanced clinical stage of HIV had an even lower risk of H. pylori colonization. Treatment with antibiotics due to co-morbidity with infectious diseases is a possible explanation for the relatively low prevalence.
Highlights
The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization in HIV-infected, highly active antiretroviral therapy-naïve Ugandan children aged 0-12 years
Children admitted during the enrolment period to the wards we have mentioned were invited to participate in the study if they were HIV infected, but HAART naïve, aged 0-12 years, and only after receiving informed consent from their caretaker
HIV-infected children more seriously affected by their disease were less likely to be colonized with H. pylori
Summary
The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization in HIV-infected, highly active antiretroviral therapy-naïve Ugandan children aged 0-12 years. Helicobacter pylori, which can cause chronic gastritis, is associated with recurrent peptic ulcers and gastric cancer [6,7]. It is one of the most common causes of bacterial infection in man [8,9]. Colonization in children living in poor socio-economic conditions has been demonstrated, and several studies have shown a high prevalence of H. pylori among people in low-income countries [11,12,13,14,15]. The overall prevalence was 44.3% in our recently published study on apparently healthy, urban Ugandan children [15]
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