Previous antibacterial treatment due to concomitant infections in preschool children is associated with a lower Helicobacter pylori positivity.
Use of antimicrobial agents has been proposed as 1 of the factors that contribute to the loss of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of a previous treatment with antibiotics on the prevalence of H. pylori infection in preschool children. Parents of 146 asymptomatic children (aged 0.5-5 y; no antibiotic treatment during the previous 4 weeks) completed a questionnaire about previous treatment with antibiotics and socioeconomic status. Infection with H. pylori was assessed by the monoclonal stool antigen test. H. pylori positivity was 18% (27/146). It was significantly lower in children who had been treated with antibiotics previously compared to those who had been never treated (12.5% (12/96) vs 30% (15/50), p=0.01). It is concluded that previous antibiotic treatment for concomitant infections is associated with a lower prevalence of H. pylori infection in preschool children.
Daugule
Ilva
I
Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga, Sweden. ilva_daugule@hotmail.com
Rumba
Ingrida
I
Ejderhamn
Jan
J
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents