Factors associated with H. pylori epidemiology in symptomatic children in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
OBJECTIVE
To determine prevalence of H pylori infection in symptomatic children in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and to investigate factors associated with H pylori positivity.


METHODS
A total of 395 children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms referred to the Gastroenterology Unit of the Children Hospital "Sor Maria Ludovica" were evaluated for the presence of H pylori by the (13)C-Urea Breath Test ((13)C-UBT). A questionnaire was applied to the recruited population.


RESULTS
Prevalence of H pylori infection was 40.0% in this population (mean age 9.97 +/- 3.1 years). The factors associated with H pylori positivity were number of siblings (P < 0.001), presence of pet cats (P = 0.03) and birds (P = 0.04) in the household, and antecedents of gastritis among family members (P = 0.01). After multivariate analysis, number of siblings [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.20-1.61] and contact with pet cats (OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.00-3.09) remained as variables associated with H pylori infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of H pylori infection in children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms in Argentina was similar to that reported in developed countries. Children from families with a higher crowding index and presence of pet cats have a higher risk of being colonized with H pylori.
Goldman
Cinthia
C
Radioisotopes Laboratory, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Junin 956-PB, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina. cgold@ffyb.uba.ar.
Barrado
Andrés
A
Janjetic
Mariana
M
Balcarce
Norma
N
Cueto Rua
Eduardo
E
Oshiro
Masaru
M
Calcagno
María L
ML
Sarrasague
Margarita-Martinez
MM
Fuda
Julián
J
Weill
Ricardo
R
Zubillaga
Marcela
M
Perez-Perez
Guillermo I
GI
Boccio
José
J
D000293:Adolescent; D001118:Argentina; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence