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Intrafamilial spread of Helicobacter pylori infection in Greece
Eleftheria Roma1, Joanna Panayiotou, Joanna Pachoula
1First Department of Pediatrics University of Athens, Athens, Greece. roma2el@otenet.gr
Insights
Family members play a significant role in childhood Helicobacter pylori infection. Studies show a higher prevalence of H. pylori within families of infected children, suggesting household transmission.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is commonly acquired during early childhood.
- Family members are suspected as a primary source of transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the role of family members in childhood H. pylori infection.
- To investigate the incidence of H. pylori within families of infected children.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 100 children with gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Gastroscopy and C-urea breath test for index children.
- C-urea breath test for all family members, regardless of prior treatment.
Main Results:
- H. pylori infection confirmed in 44 index children.
- Significantly higher infection rates in family members of infected children (P<0.001).
- Infected parents, siblings, and fathers were more common in H. pylori-positive index child families.
Conclusions:
- H. pylori infection prevalence is significantly elevated in families of infected children.
- The presence of infected family members in all positive cases suggests the family is a major source of childhood H. pylori infection.
Goal:
To find out the role of family members in the Helicobacter pylori infection in childhood by investigating the incidence of infection within families of H. pylori-infected children.
Background:
H. pylori infection is usually acquired in early childhood and possibly family members are the main source of infection.
Study:
One hundred consecutive children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms, without previous H. pylori eradication treatment were prospectively studied by gastroscopy and C-urea breath test. Simultaneously, all family members were studied by C-urea breath test regardless of earlier eradication treatment for H. pylori infection. The age of children and their parents, socioeconomic status, parents' education, and living conditions were recorded.
Results:
Forty-four index symptomatic children were infected by H. pylori. No statistical difference was found concerning demographic factors, between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative index children except age, which was higher in the H. pylori-infected children (P=0.009). In all H. pylori-positive and in 71.4% of the negative index children, at least 1 more family member was infected (P<0.001), always including a parent in the H. pylori-positive, compared with 69.6% in the H. pylori-negative group (P<0.001). The percentage of infected siblings, mothers and fathers was higher in H. pylori-infected index children (P<0.001, P=0.001, and P=0.035, respectively).
Conclusions:
The prevalence of H. pylori infection is significantly higher among families of infected index children. The presence of at least 1 infected family member in all H. pylori-positive index children suggests that the family could be the main source of H. pylori infection in children.
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