Association between herpes simplex virus type 1 and Helicobacter pylori in US adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To understand how Helicobacter pylori infection is acquired and the role that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) may have, we determined whether an association between HSV and H pylori exists at the individual level and for what reason.


METHODS
Data were collected from 1,090 participants aged 12-19 years during phase 1 (1988-1991) of the NHANES III. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR).


RESULTS
The crude overall PR and 95% CI for H pylori seropositivity comparing HSV+ to HSV- individuals was 2.20 (1.69-2.85). In large urban households the PR adjusted for poverty level and race/ethnicity was twice that in small nonurban households (2.27 versus 1.15, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, HSV-1 seropositivity is associated with a higher H pylori seroprevalence. The negligible association found in some strata suggests that shared environmental factors or routes of transmission rather than biologic reasons may be primarily responsible for this association.
Baccaglini
Lorena
L
Oral Medicine Division, Department of Dental Diagnostic Science, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA. baccaglini@uthscsa.edu
Schoenbach
Victor J
VJ
Poole
Charles
C
McKaig
Rosemary G
RG
Ibrahim
Joseph
J
Baric
Ralph S
RS
Wiesen
Chris
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000914:Antibodies, Viral