[A study on the epidemiology of Helicobacter pyroli infection among immigrants in Three Gorges area]

To investigate the epidemiologic features of Helicobacter pyroli (Hp) sero-prevalence rates among immigrants in Three Gorges area.

Enzyme labelled immuno-sorbant-assay was used to determine the Hp prevalence rate. A case-control study including 1 600 immigrants as cases and 1 600 non-immigrants as controls was carried out to explore the features of Hp infection in Three Gorges area.

The prevalence rate of Hp in immigrant area was 67.50% higher than 53.19% that of Hp in non-immigrant (chi(2) = 13.40, P < 0.01). Rate of Hp infection was highest in infants than in children, increasing with age to clearly show a positive correlation between age and Hp prevalence rate (r = 0.62, P < 0.01). However, there was no marked sex difference in Hp infection rates in the immigrant area. Same results were also presented in the non-immigrant area. Hp prevalence rates were different which related to the stages of flooding. It is 89.17% in the area of first stage, while in second and third stages of flooding, the rates were 76.40% and 62.20% respectively.

Preliminary result indicated that Hp infection rate of immigrant area was higher than that of non-immigrant area. It appeared that living condition, environment, education condition might possibly have played important role in Hp prevalence. It is more important to prevent from infected children. Further study with respect to Hp prevalence rate was necessary when immigration is completed and the standard of living improved.