title: Risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in children: is education a main determinant?
abstract: To investigate potential risk factors associated with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, we performed a case-control study in 167 consecutively selected hospitalized children in Salvador, Brazil. Hp infection was identified by the presence of IgG against Hp in serum samples. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire, 38.3% children were found to be seropositive and classified as cases, and 61.7% were seronegative controls. After multivariate analysis, independent variables associated with Hp infection included: the educational attainment of the child's provider > or = 11 years (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.01-0.9), poor garbage disposal service (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.9), thumb sucking (OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.1-19.8), brushing teeth more than once a day (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.8-17.7), having a pet dog (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.0-6.1), and a history of chronic urticaria (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.5-10.8). The risk factors identified are consistent with some, but not all, previous studies supporting either oral-oral or faecal-oral transmission of Hp. Our data suggested that a higher educational attainment might play an important role in preventing Hp infection.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Apoio à Pesquisa, Associação Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Nassri
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: A P G
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Alcântara
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: C G G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Silvani
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sant'Ana
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors