Effects of a new Helicobacter pylori infection on height and weight in Colombian children.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to investigate whether a new infection caused by Helicobacter pylori in preschool children transiently or permanently affects height and weight.


METHODS
A cohort of 347 children from three day care centers was followed up for a median of 494 days. Breath tests and anthropometric measurements were performed every 2 to 4 months. The lag effect of a new infection on linear growth during a period of 8 months was analyzed by using mixed-effects models.


RESULTS
One hundred five children (30.3%) became infected during the follow-up period and accumulated 92 person-years of follow-up. A significant decrease in growth velocity was observed during the first 4 months after infection. There was no height catch-up in infected children, and after 8 months, an infected child had a cumulative difference of 0.24 cm (growth velocity; 95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.26) compared with an uninfected child. Newly infected children experienced a small decrease in weight at the first visit compared with uninfected children, which became nonsignificant after the second visit without catch-up.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows a significant and nontransient effect of infection caused by H. pylori on height and weight. Potential interventions that target infected preschool children are likely to prevent growth retardation.
Mera
Robertino Manuel
RM
Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. rmera@lsuhsc.edu
Correa
Pelayo
P
Fontham
Elizabeth E
EE
Reina
Julio C
JC
Pradilla
Alberto
A
Alzate
Alberto
A
Bravo
Luis E
LE
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male