title: Incidence, age of acquisition and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection among Israeli Arab infants.
abstract: We examined the age of acquisition of Helicobacter pylori infection in a prospective study that was conducted among 231 Israeli Arab children. Helicobacter pylori was identified in stool specimens collected at ages 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 18 months, using a monoclonal stool antigen immunoassay. Information on household characteristics, breastfeeding, antibiotic use and hygiene practices was obtained. The incidence of H. pylori infection was 33.3%. The estimated mean age of H. pylori infection acquisition was 14 months. The determinants of H. pylori infection were living in a low socioeconomic status (SES) village: OR 9.60 (95% CI 2.91-31.68, p < 0.001); low paternal education: OR 3.35 (95% CI 1.21-9.29, p = 0.02); and boiling feeding bottles and nipples at low frequency: OR 7.12 (95% CI 1.82-27.86, p = 0.005). In conclusion, H. pylori infection is acquired at a higher rate in low SES settings. Parental education and hygiene play an important role in H. pylori acquisition in infancy.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Khitam
authors: K
authors: Muhsen
authors: Manal
authors: M
authors: Jurban
authors: Sophy
authors: S
authors: Goren
authors: Dani
authors: D
authors: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors