title: Helicobacter pylori associated gastroduodenal problem among the Nepalese.
abstract: Present study was undertaken during a period of eighteen months (April 2001 to October 2002) to see an association of Helicobacter pylori with the gastric problems among the Nepalese. This study comprised of 203 subjects (Males: 154 and Females: 49) aged 21 to 71 years with gastric problems. The biopsy samples taken from the stomach and duodenum using endoscope were tested for the presence of H. pylori by in-house rapid urease test (RUT) and culture. Representative samples were also tested by PCR. Of the total 203, 60 (29.5%) were RUT positive. Marginally high RUT positive rate was observed in males compared with females (P>0.95). Same was true with ethnic group with a marginally higher positive rate among Tibeto-Burmans compared with Indo-Aryans (P>0.05). Age-wise, higher incidence (34.4%) was observed in the age group of 36 to approximately 50 years followed by over 50 years (29.0%), and 21 to approximately 35 years (24.4%) (P>0.05). Both RUT and culture positive rate increased with the severity of the problem. RUT results were confirmed also by PCR. All RUT positive patients were given a full course of new triple therapy (combination of two antibiotics: Clarythromycin and Amoxycillin and a proton-pump inhibitor: Omeprazole) for two weeks followed by extended monotherapy with Omeprazole for up to six weeks. Of the total, 168 (82.7%) patients were available for follow-up and all of them showed an improved condition with negative RUT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Nepal Medical College, Jorpati-7, PB No. 13344, Kathmandu, Nepal. drshibarai@nmcth.edu
authors.forename: Shiba Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Ram Deo Prasad
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Chitra Lal
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bhattachan
authors.forename: Chandra Kala
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishiyama
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*