Prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection among healthy 3- to 5-year-old Israeli Arab children

Abstract

We determined the prevalence and risk factors of H. pylori infection among 197 healthy 3- to 5-year-old Israeli Arab children, in a population under socioeconomic and environmental transition. Data on the socioeconomic and environmental characteristics were obtained by personal interviews. The presence of H. pylori infection was identified using an ELISA kit for detection of H. pylori antigens in stool specimens. The prevalence rate of H. pylori infection was 49.7% (95% CI 42.8-56.67). It varied significantly among the different villages. In the univariate analysis stratified by village, the risk of infection increased according to household crowding, number of siblings younger than 5 years and siblings' H. pylori positivity. In the multivariate analysis the village of residence and siblings' H. pylori positivity were the only variables that remained strongly associated with H. pylori infection. In a population such as that described in this study the socioeconomic and living conditions are major risk factors of H. pylori infection and the intra-familial transmission of H. pylori in early childhood has an important role.

An association between Helicobacter pylori infection and cognitive function in children at early school age: a community-based study

“…Fifty percent of the children were H. pylori positive at this age [23]. Families of these children live in three villages in northern Israel.…”

Correlates of infection withHelicobacter pyloripositive and negative cytotoxin-associated gene A phenotypes among Arab and Jewish residents of Jerusalem

“…The risk factors for H. pylori infection involve living conditions in childhood, a sensitive period of acquiring the infection [7]; and include low parental education, crowded households and large families [2, 6–8]. H. pylori -infected parents and siblings comprise a main reservoir of the infection, and they increase the likelihood of its acquisition in young children [4, 9]. …”

Presence of Helicobacter pylori in a Sibling is Associated with a Long‐Term Increased Risk of H. pylori Infection in Israeli Arab Children

“…Low socioeconomic status (SES), low maternal education and living in crowded conditions are the main risk factors of H. pylori infection [8,12]. In addition, H. pylori ‐infected parents and siblings seem to play an important role in infection transmission [2,6,13–18], however, the duration of this effect remains unclear. Most these studies were cross‐sectional, thus a common source exposure could not be ruled out leaving the relative importance of intra‐familial transmission of H. pylori questionable.…”

“…In a previous study, we found a prevalence of 49.7% of H. pylori infection among 3 to 5‐year‐old Israeli Arab children [14]. The risk of infection was increased in toddlers having a sibling infected with H. pylori and in those living in low SES village [14].…”