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Decrease in prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection during a 10-year period in Brazilian children
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection prevalence significantly decreased in children over a 10-year period, particularly in younger age groups and those with epigastric pain. This study tracked H. pylori trends in pediatric endoscopy patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Global reports indicate a declining prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
- Understanding H. pylori trends in pediatric populations is crucial for public health.
- This study investigates H. pylori infection rates in children undergoing endoscopy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection over a 10-year period in children.
- To assess trends in H. pylori infection among pediatric patients undergoing upper digestive endoscopy.
- To identify age-specific and symptom-related patterns in H. pylori prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of 1,165 pediatric endoscopies (age ≤ 18) over 10 years.
- H. pylori infection diagnosed via rapid urease test on antral mucosal biopsy.
- Chi-square for trend analysis used to compare prevalence over time.
Main Results:
- Overall H. pylori prevalence was 33.6% (392/1165).
- Prevalence decreased from 60.47% in the first year to 30.43% in the last year.
- Significant decreases observed in children under 6 and over 12, and notably in those with epigastric pain.
Conclusions:
- A significant decline in H. pylori infection prevalence was observed in the studied pediatric cohort.
- The reduction in H. pylori infection was most pronounced in younger children and those presenting with epigastric pain.
- Findings suggest a positive trend in controlling H. pylori in pediatric populations.
Background:
Decreasing prevalence of H pylori infection has been reported in some countries.
Aim:
To evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a 10-year period in children submitted to upper digestive endoscopy.
Methods:
It was a retrospective observational study. The records of 1,165 endoscopies performed during a 10-year period in a public hospital of the City of São Paulo, SP, Brazil, in patients up to 18-year-old. Only the first endoscopy was considered. Helicobacter pylori infection was defined by the rapid urease test, performed with one fragment of antral mucosa. Chi-square for trend has been estimated to compare Helicobacter pylori prevalence across the period.
Results:
The main indication for endoscopy was epigastric pain (47.4%). There were 392 patients with H pylori infection (33.6%), 12.8% being infants, 19.4% toddlers, 28.8% schoolchildren and 46.3% adolescents. Prevalence was 60.47% in the first year of the study and 30.43% in the last. Among the less than 6-year-old patients there was a decrease in infection prevalence from 25% for the 1993--6 period to 14.3% in the 2000--02 period, while among the over 12-year-old patients the decrease was from 55.5% in the first period to 39.6% in the latter. The decrease in H pylori infection prevalence was more intense within patients with epigastric pain, in which prevalence has decreased from 48.2% (92/191) in 1993--6, to 41.9% (65/155) in 1997--9 and 27.7% (57/206) in 2000--02.
Conclusion:
The study suggests a significant decrease in the prevalence of H pylori infection regarding the studied patients. The trend was mainly observed in the younger age group and in patients with epigastric pain.
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