Persistent and TransientHelicobacter pyloriInfections in Early Childhood

Abstract

These results indicate that persistent H. pylori infections acquired early in life are associated with specific host and/or strain profiles possibly associated with future disease occurrence.

Helicobacter pylori in children

“…In several articles, transient H. pylori infections were reported in childhood. O'Ryan et al . evaluated factors associated with persistent or transient infection among 332 Chilean asymptomatic children.…”

Detection of Helicobacter pylori by Real‐Time PCR for 16s rRNA in Stools of NonInfected Healthy Children, Using ELISA Antigen Stool Test as the Gold Standard

“…Overall, sensitivity of these tests seems to be lower than ELISA , although a few studies suggested high specificity, of >90% when compared to invasive tests . Our research group, along with many others , have based our studies in children on ELISA results, and thus, the relatively high rtPCR‐positive/ELISA‐negative samples detected in samples from our previous study (1/3 of samples tested) required clarification. Importantly, it is conceivable that some children had a persistent infection that was not detected by ELISA.…”

Review: Prevalence and dynamics of Helicobacter pylori infection during childhood

“…Cohort studies using direct detecting of H. pylori infection, by stool antigen or UBT, at ≥3 time points in apparently healthy children are displayed in Table . The prevalence of H. pylori infection in cohorts including children <5 years of age was 20% in Portugal, 27% in Brazil, 33% in Israel, 34% and 41% in Chile and 50% in Peru . For children >5 years of age, infection rates were 38% in Mexico and 42% in Portugal .…”

“…For high‐income countries, 8%‐20% (median: 20%) of all children had long‐term infection. A persistent infection most probably represents a chronic infection, although reinfections cannot be excluded . For cross‐sectional studies, the likelihood that one positive sample indicting an active infection (based on UBT or stool antigen) reflects a persistent infection would therefore be around 75%.…”

“…Importantly, a pivotal question that will require further study is the risk of cancer based on age of acquisition of persistent infection. Infections occurring during early childhood are associated with early gastric symptomatology in some cases, and importantly, with biomolecular and genomic alterations previously associated with carcinogenesis . It remains to be determined whether infections acquired during early adulthood show similar patterns of persistence as observed in children, and if they are associated with biomolecular and genomic modifications.…”