title: Helicobacter pylori in dental plaque of children and their family members.
abstract: A prospective study was undertaken to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the dental plaque of children and their family members. 22 children (age range: 2-12 years; males: 16) admitted to the paediatric ward for various disorders and 17 healthy family members (age range: 7-40 years; males: 9) of 13 of these children were screened for presence of Helicobacter pylori in the dental plaque by the rapid urease test. H. pylori was detected in dental plaque of 82% (18/22) children and 88% (15/17) of family members. In 85% (28/33) of the positive cases the rapid urease test was positive within 1 hour. Our observations indicate that Helicobacter pylori is present in the dental plaque of majority of children and their family members.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Gastroenterology, BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Bombay.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shankaran
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Desai
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies