title: History of breastfeeding and Helicobacter pylori infection in children: results of a community-based study from northeastern Brazil.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of breastfeeding and the infection status of the mother in the acquisition of Helicobacter pylori infection in a poor urban community in northeastern Brazil. Helicobacter pylori status was evaluated by 13C-urea breath test in individuals under the age of 14 years and by ELISA in the mothers. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 55.8% (197/353) in the children and it increased with age (P<0.0001). Of the children in whom breastfeeding status was known, 93.2% (316/339) were breastfed. The H. pylori prevalence did not differ between breastfed and never breastfed children (55% vs. 52%) even when children were breastfed for >6 months. The prevalence of infection was much higher in children whose mothers were H. pylori infected than in children whose mothers were not infected, resulting in a crude odds ratio (OR) of 3.11 (95% CI 1.57-6.19) and 2.40 after adjustment for potential confounders (95% CI 1.12-5.15). This study suggests that breastfeeding does not protect against acquisition of H. pylori in northeastern Brazil; conversely, an infected mother may have an important role in transmission of the disease to the child.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unity, University Hospital Walter Cantideo, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Av. José Bastos 3390, sala 90, 60436-170 Porangabussu, Fortaleza Ce, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Dulciene M M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: Andréa Bessa C
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: Andreia M C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Elis C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Eulailo
authors.forename: Lucia L B C
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Braga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001938:Brazil; D001942:Breast Feeding; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D014505:Urban Population