Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among children of low socioeconomic level in São Paulo.
OBJECTIVE
Helicobacter pylori infection is mainly acquired during childhood, and is associated with significant morbidity in adults. The aim here was to evaluate the seroprevalence and risk factors of H. pylori infection among children of low socioeconomic level attended at a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study, among patients attended at an outpatient clinic.


METHODS
326 children were evaluated (150 boys and 176 girls; mean age 6.82 ± 4.07 years) in a cross-sectional study. Patients with chronic diseases or previous H. pylori treatment, and those whose participation was not permitted by the adult responsible for the child, were excluded. The adults answered a demographic questionnaire and blood samples were collected. The serological test used was Cobas Core II, a second-generation test. Titers > 5 U/ml were considered positive.


RESULTS
H. pylori infection was diagnosed in 116 children (35.6%). Infected children were older than uninfected children (7.77 ± 4.08 years versus 5.59 ± 3.86 years; p < 0.0001). The seroprevalence increased from 20.8% among children aged two to four years, to 58.3% among those older than 12 years. There were no significant relationships between seropositivity and gender, color, breastfeeding, number of people in the home, number of rooms, bed sharing, living in a shantytown, maternal educational level, family income or nutritional status. In multivariate analysis, the only variable significantly associated with H. pylori seropositivity was age.


CONCLUSIONS
Infection had intermediate prevalence in the study population, and age was associated with higher prevalence.
Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Aurea Cristina Portorreal
AC
Miranda
Rodrigo Strehl
RS
Machado
Edina Mariko Koga da
EM
Silva
Elisabete
E
Kawakami
D017677:Age Distribution; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial