Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in asymptomatic population--a pilot serological study in Bangladesh

Epidemiological reports reveal that H. pylori is distributed among all population in the world. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to see the H. pylori seroprevalence rates among the asymptomatic adults, as yet reportedly no such data available in Bangladesh. Serum samples were collected from 181 consecutive subjects who attended at the health check-up centre of Bangladesh Institute of Diabeties, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), Dhaka, during the period of August to November 1995 for medical check up. The mean age of these subjects was 30.33 years (range 20-44 yrs). Incidentally all were male and belonged to average socioeconomic class. H. pylori specific IgG antibody level was assayed by an enzyme immunoassay kit ElAgen (Clone system). Among the 181 subjects, 166 (92%) had H. pylori specific antibodies and 15 (8%) were seronegative. No significant difference (p < 0.90) in seroprevalence rates was observed among different age groups. However, the results of higher seroprevalence rates of H. pylori infection in these asymptomatic adult population of Bangladesh are consistent with that of Africa and India.