title: Helicobacter pylori colonization in infants in a peri-urban community in Karachi, Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence and incidence of Helicobacter pylori in children in Pakistan is not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the prevalence and age of acquisition of Helicobacter pylori infection/colonization in infants in a peri-urban community in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Field based epidemiologic study in a peri-urban community in Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Infants aged 1 to 3 months were recruited from a birth cohort from the community. C-urea breath test (C-UBT) was performed on recruitment, and the test was repeated at 2, 3, 6, and 9 months of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred forty-eight infants were recruited and had C-UBT on 319 occasions over a period of 2 years. Two hundred thirty-one=(72%) tests were positive: 80% (49/61) infants at 1 month of age, 79% (33/42) at 2 month of age, 76% (92/121) at 3 month of age, 58% (37/64) at 6 months of age, and 67% (20/30) at 9 months of age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study reveals an early colonization/infection of infants and a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in a peri-urban community in Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. qamaruddin.nizami@aku.edu
authors.forename: Shaikh Qamaruddin
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Nizami
authors.forename: Zulfiqar Ahmed
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Bhutta
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Preston
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001944:Breath Tests; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes