Nutritional status of Helicobacter pylori-infected children in Guatemala as compared with uninfected peers.
The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on the nutritional status of children in a developing country was studied using a cross-sectional design. Children attending an all-girl public school in inner Guatemala City, Guatemala were evaluated to acquire sociodemographic information and anthropometric nutritional parameters (weight-for-height [WFH] and height-for-age [HFA]), and detect H. pylori-specific serum IgG antibodies. Of 211 children 5-10 years of age, 107 (51%) were infected. The WFH values were not different between infected and uninfected subjects, and were not affected by the sociodemographic variables. The HFA values decreased significantly with age (P = 0.008), lower income (P = 0.04), and H. pylori infection (P = 0.05). When controlled for age and income level, the effect of infection on HFA became nonsignificant (P = 0.30). Helicobacter pylori appeared to have no effect on the nutritional status of the studied children; the differences detected were small and likely due to sociodemographic factors.
Quiñonez
J M
JM
Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, USA.
Chew
F
F
Torres
O
O
Bégué
R E
RE
D000367:Age Factors; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006166:Guatemala; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial