Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and parasites in symptomatic children examined for Helicobacter pylori antibodies, antigens, and parasites in Yemen.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and parasites in symptomatic children examined for H. pylori antibodies, antigens, and parasites in Yemen.


METHODS
A record-based study was carried out at Specialized Sam Pediatric Center in Sana'a, Yemen for 3 years between 2011-2013. Out of the 43,200 patients seen for different causes through that period, 1008 (2.3%) (females: 675 [67%]; males: 333 [33%]) had gastric complaints, and were subjected to an examination of blood and stool for H. pylori and parasites. Data regarding age and gender was also collected.


RESULTS
The age of the patients ranged from 3-15 years. The prevalence of H. pylori among children examined for H. pylori was 65%, 30% of them were males, and 35% were females (chi square [I2]=142, p<0.01]). The prevalence in the 6-8 years age group was 83%, and it was 52% in the age group of 12-15 years. The prevalence of giardiasis was 10%, and amoebiasis was 25%.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of H. pylori infection among children was high, and was more prevalent in the age group of 6-8 years than in the other age groups. Females were more affected than males. Parasites (amoebiasis and giardiasis) infestation was less prevalent.
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, PO Box 18660, Sana'a, Yemen. Tel. +96 (7) 1245492. E-mail. mabrookmohanna@yahoo.com.
Mabrook A
MA
Bin Mohanna
Lutf M
LM
Al-Zubairi
Abdul K
AK
Sallam
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D000293:Adolescent; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D015006:Yemen / Q000453:epidemiology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial