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Prevalence and Risk Factors of H elicobacter pylori Infection in S audi Children: A Three‐Year Prospective Controlled Study
Author(s) -
Hasosah Mohammed,
Satti Mohammed,
Shehzad Amir,
Alsahafi Ashraf,
Sukkar Ghassan,
Alzaben Abdullah,
Sunaid Areej,
Ahmed Abdullah,
AlThubiti Sami,
Mufti Areej,
Jacobson Kevan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
helicobacter
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1523-5378
pISSN - 1083-4389
DOI - 10.1111/hel.12172
Subject(s) - medicine , helicobacter pylori , esophagogastroduodenoscopy , prospective cohort study , abdominal pain , gastroenterology , endoscopy
Background Helicobacter pylori ( H . pylori) infection is the most common chronic infections. The risk factors for H . pylori infection in both developing and developed countries are closely related to poor living conditions in childhood. This study aimed to establish the prevalence of H . pylori infection and its associated risk factors among children in the western and central regions of S audi A rabia. Methods A prospective cross‐sectional study was performed among symptomatic children in N ational G uard hospitals who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy from 2010 to 2013. The gold standard diagnosis of H . pylori infection was histologic presence of the bacteria in the gastric biopsy. The variables analyzed as possible risk factors included demographic and living characteristics, socioeconomic status, potential mode of transmission, and clinical indications of H . pylori infection. Results A total of 303 children were included in the study. The overall prevalence of H . pylori infection was 49.8%. Among the studied variables, the following were positively associated with the presence of H . pylori in multivariable analyses: age above 10 years( OR = 11.84, 95% CI = 3.90–35.94, p < .0001), an income of <5000 SR ( OR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.07–3.95), more than eight persons in the household ( OR = 3.46, 95% CI = 1.67–7.20), bed sharing ( OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.32–3.86), and two affected parents ( OR = 11.19, 95% CI = 1.29–97.27). Abdominal pain and anorexia were significant predictors of H. pylori infection ( p = .005 and .009, respectively). Conclusion Helicobacter pylori infection had a high prevalence among S audi children in the cities of J eddah and R iyadh. It was a relatively common cause of abdominal pain and anorexia. In this cohort of children, H . pylori infection was associated with variables indicative of a crowded environment and poor living conditions, further supporting the conclusion that improving socioeconomic conditions and designing a preventive health strategy in S audi A rabia will likely protect children against this infection.