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Seroepidemiological study of Helicobacter pylori infection in South African children
M A Sathar1, E Gouws, A E Simjee
1Department of Medicine, Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection is common in South African children, with over 80% infected by age 10. Infection rates were similar between genders and unaffected by socioeconomic factors, but linked to Hepatitis A virus transmission.
Area of Science:
- * Pediatric infectious diseases
- * Epidemiology
- * Microbiology
Background:
- * Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a significant human pathogen.
- * Understanding its transmission routes in children is crucial for public health interventions.
- * Previous studies on H. pylori seroprevalence in pediatric populations in South Africa are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To determine the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection in Black children in KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa.
- * To investigate the association of H. pylori infection with demographic factors and compare its transmission patterns with Hepatitis A virus (HAV).
Main Methods:
- * A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted on 681 randomly selected Black children (newborn to 13 years).
- * H. pylori infection was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies.
- * Data on age, gender, family income, overcrowding, education, and pet ownership were collected and analyzed alongside H. pylori and HAV serostatus.
Main Results:
- * The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was 66%.
- * Seroprevalence increased with age, exceeding 80% by 10 years of age.
- * No significant differences in H. pylori seropositivity were found based on gender, pets, parental education, crowding, or income.
- * A strong positive association was observed between H. pylori and HAV seroprevalence (P < 0.00001), indicating similar transmission routes.
Conclusions:
- * H. pylori infection is highly prevalent in Black children in KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa, with a significant age-dependent increase.
- * The findings suggest that H. pylori shares similar fecal-oral transmission pathways with HAV in this population.
- * Further research into targeted interventions for H. pylori prevention, considering its transmission dynamics, is warranted.
Abstract:
The seroepidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection was studied in 681 randomly selected Black children from newborn to 13 years of age (333 boys, mean age 8.05 years, and 348 girls, mean age 7.76 years) in KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa. H. pylori infection was identified serologically using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the presence of immunoglobulin G against H. pylori. Demographic information collected included age, gender, family income, overcrowding, educational level, and possession of domestic pets. The seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was compared to a known faecal-orally transmitted infection, hepatitis A virus (HAV); 66% of the children were seropositive for H. pylori. There was an age-specific increase in H. pylori infection, with more than 80% of children being infected by the age of 10 years. There was no significant difference (P = 0.338) in the seropositivity of H. pylori infection between boys (68%) and girls (64%), nor was there any significant difference in H. pylori infection related to pets, level of parents' education, crowding, and income, by either univariate or multivariate analysis. However, there was a significant association (P < 0.00001) between the seroprevalence of H. pylori and HAV infections, suggesting similar modes of transmission.