title: Evaluation of association between hepatitis A and Helicobacter pylori infections and routes of transmission.
abstract: Previous research about coexistence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections and the factors that increase their prevalence has suggested that the route of transmission of HP infection includes oral-oral and water-foods as well as the fecal-oral route. The aim of this study was to evaluate the routes of transmission of HP by comparing the seroprevalences of HP and HAV in children. One hundred and two children aged 1-18 years living in rural and urban regions of Izmir were included in this study. Anti-HP IgG and anti-HAV IgG antibodies were measured via enzyme immunoassay method. Seropositivities for HP and HAV were 56.8% and 51.9%, respectively. Seroprevalence for both infections increased with increasing age. However, a significant difference could not be detected between rural and urban areas. Sex did not have a significant effect. There was no infection in 22.1% of children, while 30.8% had both of the infections. 21.1% were positive only for HAV while 26% were positive only for HP. No significant correlation between seroprevalences of HP and HAV was detected. This study suggests the existence of various other routes of transmission of HP apart from the fecal-oral route.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayten
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Egemen
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ipek
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akil
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Altuğlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population