The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and height in children from an urban community in north-east Brazil.
BACKGROUND
An association between Helicobacter pylori infection and short stature in children has been described recently.


OBJECTIVE
To describe differences in stature between H. pylori-infected and non-infected children in a low-income community in north-east Brazil.


METHODS
H. pylori status was evaluated by 13C-urea-breath test; centile values for weight and height were calculated for each child.


RESULTS
The prevalence of H. pyloni was 55.8% (197/353) and increased with age. Of 197 H. pylori-positive children, 62% were below the 25th centile for height compared with 48% of H. pylori-negative children (75/156) [AOR (adjusted odds ratio) 1.61, 95% CI 1.04-2.49, p=0.03] after adjustment for variables with p < 0.25 in univariate analysis (gender, number of residents, of children per household and of persons per bed). These results were significant only when older children were included. Thus, in children aged 8-14 years, 80% (89/111) of H. pylori-positive were <25th centile for height compared with 63% (35/56) of H. pylori-negative children (p=0.01). Compared with children with a height >25th centile, the AOR for H. pylori infection increased from 2.42 in the crude analysis to 6.62 after adjustment (p=0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori is associated with short stature in older children living in a poor urban community in Brazil.
Fialho
André M N
AM
Clinical Research Unit, University Hospital Walter Cantideo/Department of Internal Medicine, Ceará Federal University, Brazil.
Braga
Andréa B C
AB
Queiroz
Dulciene M M
DM
Rodrigues
Maria N
MN
Herbster
Isabel D
ID
Braga
Lucia L B C
LL
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data