Role of infected grandmothers in transmission of Helicobacter pylori to children in a Japanese rural town

Abstract

Aim: Although the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) increases with age and the main period of acquisition is childhood, the route of transmission of H. pylori infection remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between prevalence of children and grandparents. Methods: A total of 838 consecutive children who attended the Urita clinic and whose blood was taken for work up were enrolled in the present study. They were 449 boys and 389 girls, with a mean age of 12.4 years. H. pylori serology of their family members who were living together in one house was picked up to analyse intra-familial clustering of H. pylori infection. The family members of these children consisted of 448 fathers, 597 mothers, 205 grandfathers, 361 grandmothers and 589 siblings. Results: The seropositive rates of mothers, grandmother and siblings in seropositive children were significantly higher than those in seronegative children. H. pylori infection in mothers and grandmothers was a marked risk factor for infection in the index children. Larger family size was not a risk factor for H. pylori infection. In contrast, having an infected father or grandfather was not an independent predictor for children infection.Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that not only mother-to-child transmission but also grandmother-to-child transmission is an important mechanism for the spread of H. pylori in a three-generation household.

The administrative project of Helicobacter pylori infection screening among junior high school students in an area of Japan with a high incidence of gastric cancer

“…There are already several reports on the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Japanese children ranging from 1.8% in Hyogo to 12% in Aomori (Supplement 1) [15][16][17][18]. The prevalence was generally lower in children than in adults [19,20], reflecting the decreasing trend of infection over the past decades.…”

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Muong Children in Vietnam

“…Kivi et al showed that having an infected mother [OR 11.6 (95% CI: 2.0-67.9)] or at least one infected sibling [OR 8.1, (95%CI: 1.8-37.3)] was a major risk factor for H. pylori infection in Swedish children [37]. Urita et al reported a significantly higher seroprevalence of H. pylori in children who had infected siblings compared to the control group [38]. Malaty et al also provided data demonstrating an increased prevalence of infected children to infected parents [4,39].…”

Clinical differences of Helicobacter pylori infection in children

“…28 Based on this study, H. pylori spread in a 3-generation households occur not only through mother to child transmission but also through the grandmother to child route. Interestingly, having an infected father or grandfather was not a significant predictor for the infection being present in children.…”