title: Factors associated with H. pylori epidemiology in symptomatic children in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Radioisotopes Laboratory, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Junin 956-PB, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina. cgold@ffyb.uba.ar.
authors.forename: Cinthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barrado
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janjetic
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balcarce
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cueto Rua
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oshiro
authors.forename: María L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Calcagno
authors.forename: Margarita-Martinez
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sarrasague
authors.forename: Julián
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuda
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weill
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zubillaga
authors.forename: Guillermo I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Perez-Perez
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boccio
mesh_terms: 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