Age-Specific Helicobacter pylori Seropositivity Rates of Children in an Impoverished Urban Area of Northeast Brazil

Abstract

We determined age-specific Helicobacter pylori seropositivity rates of 166 children and 39 mothers in an urban shantytown in northeast Brazil. Seropositivity rates increased from 23.1% at 0 to 11 months of age to only 39.3% by 96 to 131 months of age and were 82.1% at maturity. We observed no correlation between the seropositivity of the mothers and the seropositivity of their children.Accumulating evidence suggests that Helicobacter pylori is acquired in early childhood and infects more people in developing countries than in industrialized countries (1,3,4,11). In impoverished areas of developing countries, the H. pylori seropositivity rate by 20 years of age has been shown to be more than 80%, much greater than the 30% seropositivity rate by 30 years of age in industrialized countries (3,6,18). Furthermore, a study of 141 adults showed no significant change in H. pylori infection rates from 1969 to 1990, suggesting that acquisition of H. pylori in adulthood does not play a large role in the high seropositivity rates seen in developing countries (4).In order to understand the transmission and health impact of H. pylori infection, a focus on early childhood infection is necessary (12). Our report presents new age-specific H. pylori seropositivity rates and suggests that neither mother-to-child nor waterborne transmission of the pathogen can account for whom is infected and when the infection occurs.The subjects in this study live in Gonçalves Dias, a slum of FIG. 1. Age-specific seropositivity rates of subjects living in an impoverished urban area of northeast Brazil increased to 39.3% by age 10, before reaching 82% by maturity. Most subjects in our study did not acquire H. pylori infection very early in childhood. n, number of samples.

Helicobacter pylori detection in gastric biopsies, saliva and dental plaque of Brazilian dyspeptic patients

“…However, it is important to remember that the infection rates can vary dramatically by geographic area, age, race and socioeconomic status (Mitchell et al 2003, Souto & Colombo 2008. (Madmujar et al 1990, Krajden et al 1989, Nguyen et al 1995, Loster et al 2006, De Sousa et al 2006, Souto & Colombo 2008, Silva et al 2009) have reported that the oral cavity can be a reservoir for H. pylori, making treatment difficult and exposing the individual to a higher risk of gastric reinfection.…”

“…In Brazil, the prevalence of H. pylori infection may be as high as 80% in adults, whereas the prevalence is typically 30-70% in North America and Europe (Souto et al 1998, Mitchell 1999, Brito et al 2003, Mitchell et al 2003, Tseng et al 2006, Yamaoka 2008. Despite these dramatic infection rates, the modes of acquisition and transmission of H. pylori remain unclear.…”

Detection of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies, saliva and dental plaques of dyspeptic patients from Marília, São Paulo, Brazil: presence of vacA and cagA genes

“…It is estimated that in developing countries like Brazil, the prevalence of H. pylori infection approaches 80% in adults versus 30 to 70% in developed countries (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7).…”

<i>HELICOBACTER</i> INFECTION AND ALLERGY IN MAJORITY AND ROMA POPULATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

“…16 to 20%, whereas in developing countries this can reach 80 to 90% of tested children (Kariya et al, 2014). It is clear that these findings are significantly influenced by lifestyle, nutrition, social conditions, quality of living, education level of parents and other factors (Amedei et al, 2010;Gold et al, 2001;Hancox et al, 2004;Krumbiegel et al, 2000;Laszewicz et al, 2014;Mitchell et al, 2003; Science Publications Moayyedi et al, 2002;Perez-Perez et al, 2003;Reibman et al, 2008;Rothenbacher et al, 1998;Vasar et al, 2011). The Roma population originates in Northern India and has lived in Europe for more than 1,000 years (Hajioff and McKee, 2000).…”