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Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Risk Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children
Gokben Ozbey1, Alfizah Hanafiah2
1Department of Medical Laboratory, Firat University, Elazig, Turkey.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a global concern in children, particularly in developing nations. This review identifies knowledge gaps in H. pylori epidemiology, risk factors, and diagnostic accuracy in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is a significant global health issue in children, prevalent in developing countries.
- It is linked to various gastrointestinal ailments in pediatric populations.
- Accurate diagnosis remains challenging due to the limitations of current testing methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and identify knowledge gaps concerning the epidemiology of H. pylori infection in children.
- To explore the risk factors associated with H. pylori infection in pediatric cases.
- To evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of diagnostic tests for H. pylori in children.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature on H. pylori infection in children.
- Analysis of epidemiological data, risk factors, and diagnostic test performance.
- Identification of research gaps in the field.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of H. pylori varies significantly, with higher rates in developing countries.
- Risk factors include ethnicity, socioeconomic status, living conditions, and environmental factors.
- Both invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests have limitations; no single method is sufficiently reliable for children.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to refine diagnostic strategies for H. pylori in children.
- Understanding socioeconomic and environmental risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention.
- Comprehensive epidemiological data is essential for managing H. pylori infection in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
H. pylori infection is a global public health problem associated with some gastrointestinal diseases in children, especially in developing countries, since prevalence of H. pylori is low in the developed world. Both noninvasive (stool antigen test, urea breath test, and blood test) and invasive (histology, rapid urease test, and microbiological culture) tests have been utilized to detect H. pylori infection. However, a single test is not reliable enough and does not provide accurate enough data to determine H. pylori infection among children. Risk factors of H. pylori infection in children were related to ethnicities, household properties, geographic location, living conditions, water sources, type of housing, presence/absence of sewage systems, and garbage collection within the living environment. These risk factors were usually associated with the socioeconomic status of the family. This review article aims to determine the gaps in the knowledge of the epidemiology, risk factors, and diagnostic tests of H. pylori infection among children. How to cite this article: Ozbey G, Hanafiah A. Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Risk Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2017;7(1):34-39.
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