title: Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in HIV-infected, HAART-naïve Ugandan children: a hospital-based survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization in HIV-infected, highly active antiretroviral therapy-naïve Ugandan children aged 0-12 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a hospital-based survey, 236 HIV-infected children were tested for H. pylori colonization using a faecal antigen test. A standardized interview with socio-demographic information and medical history was used to assess risk factors. A cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell percentage was prevalent in most children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of H. pylori in the HIV-infected children was 22.5%. Age-specific prevalence was as follows: up to one year, 14.7%; 1-3 years, 30.9%; and 3-12 years, 20.7%. HIV-infected children who were more seriously affected by their disease (low CD4 cell percentage or WHO clinical stage II-IV) were less likely to be colonized with H. pylori. There was a trend for a lower prevalence of H. pylori in children who had taken antibiotics for the preceding two weeks (21.6%) than in those who had not taken antibiotics (35.7%). There was no statistically significant difference in prevalence by gender, housing, congested living, education of the female caretaker, drinking water or toilet facilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIV-infected, HAART-naïve Ugandan children had a lower prevalence of H. pylori colonization compared with apparently healthy Ugandan children (44.3%). Children with a low CD4 cell percentage and an advanced clinical stage of HIV had an even lower risk of H. pylori colonization. Treatment with antibiotics due to co-morbidity with infectious diseases is a possible explanation for the relatively low prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. elin.hestvik@cih.uib.no
authors.forename: Elin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hestvik
authors.forename: Thorkild
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tylleskar
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ndeezi
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grahnquist
authors.forename: Edda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olafsdottir
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tumwine
authors.forename: Deogratias H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kaddu-Mulindwa
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial