Helicobacter pylori in Gambian children with chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition.
Infection with Helicobacter pylori (formerly Campylobacter pylori) was studied by measuring antibody titres to H pylori in Gambian children. Serological evidence of infection was found in 12 of 82 (15%) infants aged less than 20 months; this increased to 62 of 135 (46%) in those aged 40-60 months. Positive serology was found in 41 of 77 (53%) infants with chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition (mean age 19 months, range 5-36) compared with 18 of 70 (26%) of age matched healthy controls and nearly a quarter (12/49, 24%) of age matched undernourished (marasmic) subjects. These data show that infection with H pylori is common in the Gambia and that in infancy this infection is associated with chronic diarrhoea and malnutrition.
Sullivan
P B
PB
MRC Laboratories, Fajara, The Gambia.
Thomas
J E
JE
Wight
D G
DG
Neale
G
G
Eastham
E J
EJ
Corrah
T
T
Lloyd-Evans
N
N
Greenwood
B M
BM
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000276:immunology*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D004724:Endoscopy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012424:Rural Population; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial