Intrafamilial spread of Helicobacter pylori: a prospective study using urea breath test.
OBJECTIVE
The mode of Helicobacter pylori spread is not well defined. Urea breath test (UBT) is an accurate and noninvasive method for H pylori detection. This study evaluates the role of intrafamilial spread of H pylori using UBT.


METHODS
The family members of 16 Hpylori-positive and 16 negative (control) children confirmed by histology and rapid urease test were investigated with UBT. A 58% change was considered positive.


RESULTS
A total of 139 persons (72 in the positive group; 67 in the control group) were studied. Fifty-eight (81%, 58 of 72) and 13 (19%, 13 of 67) were found to be positive in the H pylori-positive and control groups, respectively (P < .01). Among children from 19 positive mothers, the positive rate was 60% (25 of 42), whereas among children of negative mothers, the positive rate was 16% (4 of 25; P < .01). The positive rate among children of positive fathers was 66% (23 of 35), whereas that among children of negative fathers was 30% (7 of 23; P < .01). When both parents were H pylori-positive, the children's positive rate was 83% (19 of 23); when both parents were negative, the children's positive rate was 0% (0 of 9; P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
There is strong evidence of intrafamilial spread of H pylori. The positivity of parents with H pylori has an important bearing on their children's H pylori status.
Zhou
H
H
Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong Medical Center, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Chan
K L
KL
Chu
K M
KM
Tam
P K
PK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis*
D014508:Urea