Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori: the Indian scenario.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the age-related prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in populations from developing and developed nations to determine the possible mode of transmission.


METHODS
Endoscopic gastric biopsies (for biopsy urease test and histology) were obtained in 526 patients with dyspepsia and in 82 control subjects to determine H pylori prevalence.


RESULTS
H pylori prevalence in patients with dyspepsia and in control subjects was 65% and 46% respectively. Age-related prevalence in these two groups in the age groups 10-19 years, 20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years and > or = 50 years was 52%, 70%, 69%, 60% and 59%, and 44%, 55% 58%, 36% and 33% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to H pylori occurs early in India and is widespread, even in control subjects. The high prevalence of the organism in young Indian control subjects and the comparable prevalence of antibodies to H pylori and hepatitis A virus infection in different age groups both in developed and developing nations may suggest a feco-oral mode of transmission.
Gill
H H
HH
Department of Gastroenterology, BYL Nair Charitable Hosptial, Bombay.
Desai
H G
HG
Majmudar
P
P
Mehta
P R
PR
Prabhu
S R
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence