Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among junior high school students in Grudziadz, Poland

Abstract

Background The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among the junior high school students in city Grudziądz, Poland. Materials and methods A prospective cross‐sectional study among second junior high school students was conducted from September 2008 to June 2015 during seven consecutive school years. The studied group was 3241 students 13‐17 years old. The 13C‐urea breath test (UBT) was administered to all participants for current H. pylori infection. Clinical, sociodemographic, and hygienic risk factors for H. pylori positivity were analyzed in children with positive and negative UBT. Results Urea breath test was performed and results were obtained for 3067 of 3241 children, including 723 children (23.6%) with positive result (group 1) and 2344 children (76.4%) with negative result (group 2). The prevalence of H. pylori infection was not different in subsequent seven school years (P = 0.06) and depending on the gender (P = 0.57). In group 1 the cough and in group 2 the epigastric discomfort occurred more frequent (P = 0.04 and P = 0.002, respectively). In multivariate analysis, factors positively associated with prevalence of H. pylori were age >16 years (OR = 2.556; 95%CI 1.293‐5.025), living in old town district (OR = 1.374; 95%CI 1.097‐1.723), consumption of raw vegetables (OR 1.305; 95%CI 1.038‐1.642) or unboiled water (OR = 1.444; 95%CI 1.138‐1.832) and using collective catering facilities (OR 1.338; 95%CI 1.039‐1.724). Having a cat was protective against H. pylori (OR 0.78; 95%CI 0.614‐0.991). Conclusions Over the past 10 years, the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Polish adolescents has decreased. H. pylori infection remains problem closely associated with socioeconomic and sanitary conditions. Our results are important to develop prevention strategies for H. pylori‐related diseases.

Individual and household correlates of Helicobacter pylori infection among Young Ethiopian children in Ziway, Central Ethiopia

“…Accordingly, H. pylori transmission is more highly associated with childhood living conditions than adult living conditions [9,10]. Previous studies have thus sought to identify select risk factors for H. pylori infection by examining childhood environments [10][11][12][13][14][15]. Common risk factors examined in these studies include age, indicators of socioeconomic status, and poor hand and cooking sanitation [10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

Review: Helicobacter pylori in pediatrics

“…Tang et al reported a statistically significant decrease in the H pylori infection rate in symptomatic children between 2005 (25.6%) and 2017 (12.8%) in China. However, infection rates remain higher in some groups of children, dependent on factors such as low socioeconomic status and bad sanitary conditions as was concluded in studies from Poland, Peru, China, and Ethiopia …”

“…The epidemiology of H pylori is rapidly changing, as shown by the high number of epidemiologic studies published in the last year. The world prevalence of H pylori varies significantly, from 2.5% in Japan to 34.6% in Ethiopia (Table ). Nonetheless, a decreasing trend in the prevalence of H pylori infection among children is being observed.…”

“…In recent ESPGHAN (European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) and NASPGHAN (North American Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) guidelines for H pylori infection in children, the recommendation is that the primary goal of clinical investigation of gastrointestinal symptoms is to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms and not solely the presence of H pylori infection . Despite that, discussions continue regarding whether the management of pediatric dyspepsia should include the determination of H pylori status . Studies from Poland, Turkey, and Peru failed to demonstrate significant differences concerning symptoms in H pylori ‐positive vs H pylori ‐negative children with dyspepsia, further supporting the recommendations given in latest guidelines …”

“…Despite that, discussions continue regarding whether the management of pediatric dyspepsia should include the determination of H pylori status . Studies from Poland, Turkey, and Peru failed to demonstrate significant differences concerning symptoms in H pylori ‐positive vs H pylori ‐negative children with dyspepsia, further supporting the recommendations given in latest guidelines …”