Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 1, 2026

Gastric Mucosa Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis for Detecting Helicobacter pylori and Antibiotic Resistance
05:23

Gastric Mucosa Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis for Detecting Helicobacter pylori and Antibiotic Resistance

Published on: March 7, 2025

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in asymptomatic children

W Hardikar1, K Grimwood

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|December 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Helicobacter pylori infection was found in 14.3% of asymptomatic Australian children. Parental ethnic background and social class were significant risk factors for H. pylori acquisition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Helicobacter pylori infection is a global health concern.
  • Prevalence varies significantly across different populations and age groups.
  • Understanding infection dynamics in children is crucial for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in asymptomatic Australian children.
  • To identify potential risk factors associated with H. pylori acquisition in this pediatric cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational study conducted over 3 months in Melbourne.
  • Inclusion of asymptomatic children aged 0-14 years undergoing elective surgery.
  • Serological testing for H. pylori immunoglobulin G antibodies using validated enzyme immunoabsorbent assay.

Main Results:

  • Overall H. pylori seroprevalence was 14.3% (21/147 children).
  • Prevalence was significantly higher in children of parents from developing nations (25.8%) compared to Caucasian/Western European backgrounds (5.9%).
  • Father's ethnic background emerged as the sole significant independent risk factor (P=0.002), with an inverse relationship noted between social class and infection.

Conclusions:

  • H. pylori seroprevalence in Australian children is lower than in developing countries.
  • Specific ethnic groups within Australia face a substantially elevated risk of H. pylori infection.
  • Targeted public health interventions may be necessary for at-risk pediatric populations.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Antibiotic Resistance via Stool Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis04:56

Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Antibiotic Resistance via Stool Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis

Published on: May 16, 2025

Rapid Detection of Fecal Antigen of Helicobacter pylori Infection Based on Double Antibody Sandwich Detection Technology03:33

Rapid Detection of Fecal Antigen of Helicobacter pylori Infection Based on Double Antibody Sandwich Detection Technology

Published on: May 23, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy01:16

Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy

Helicobacter pylori, a resilient gram-negative bacterium, can thrive in the stomach's harsh, acidic environment. Infection with H. pylori leads to a cascade of events within the stomach lining. One of the critical disruptions caused by this bacterium is the interference with somatostatin production, a hormone responsible for regulating acid secretion. This interference tips the balance, escalating acid secretion and diminishing bicarbonate levels. This imbalance compromises the defensive...
Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:28

Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) presents with diverse symptoms depending on the location and severity of the ulcer. Clinical manifestations of peptic ulcer include dull pain and a burning sensation in the mid-epigastric region.
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
Peptic Ulcer01:27

Peptic Ulcer

Peptic ulcers are erosive lesions of the gastric or duodenal lining, most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This Gram-negative, helical bacterium has adapted to survive the stomach’s acidic environment by producing urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia neutralizes gastric acid in the bacterium’s immediate environment, allowing colonization of the gastric mucosa. H. pylori attaches to mucus-secreting epithelial cells, penetrates the mucus...
Poliomyelitis01:17

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Gastritis II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of gastritis begins with the colonization of the stomach lining by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This bacterium spreads mainly via the oral-oral route through saliva or shared utensils, and can also be transmitted in overcrowded or unhygienic environments through contaminated water, despite its brief survival outside the body.ColonizationOnce ingested, H. pylori enters the stomach and begins colonization by navigating through the mucus layer lining the stomach wall. It...
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology01:24

Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology

Peptic ulcer disease develops when protective mechanisms of the gastrointestinal mucosa are overwhelmed by harmful factors, leading to localized erosions in the stomach or proximal duodenum. The main causes are Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).Helicobacter pylori–Induced InjuryBacterial Adaptation and Colonization:H. pylori is a spiral, Gram-negative bacterium adapted to the acidic stomach. and transmitted through oral-oral or...