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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2006; 12(33): 5384-5388
Published online Sep 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i33.5384
Factors associated with H pylori epidemiology in symptomatic children in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cinthia Goldman, Andrés Barrado, Mariana Janjetic, Norma Balcarce, Eduardo Cueto Rua, Masaru Oshiro, María L Calcagno, Margarita Martinez Sarrasague, Julián Fuda, Ricardo Weill, Marcela Zubillaga, Guillermo I Perez-Perez, José Boccio
Cinthia Goldman, Marcela Zubillaga, Radioisotopes Laboratory and Laboratory of Stable Isotopes Applied to Biology and Medicine, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Andrés Barrado, Mariana Janjetic, Margarita Martinez Sarrasague, Julián Fuda, José Boccio, Laboratory of Stable Isotopes Applied to Biology and Medicine, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Norma Balcarce, Eduardo Cueto Rua, Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital de niños “Superiora Sor María Ludovica”, La Plata, Argentina
Masaru Oshiro, Health Center Di Matteo, San Fernando, Buenos Aires, Argentina
María L Calcagno, Mathematics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ricardo Weill, Agrarian Industries Department, School of Agronomy, University of Morón, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Guillermo I Perez-Perez, Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, United States
Supported by ARCAL LIV-6042 Project from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, Austria, UBACYT B077 Project from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, PICT 14243 Project from the National Agency of Scientific and Technological Research, Argentina, and Project 2002-013 from the Thraser Research Fundation
Correspondence to: Cinthia Goldman, Radioisotopes Laboratory, Physics Department, School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Junín 956-PB, Buenos Aires 1113, Argentina. cgold@ffyb.uba.ar
Telephone: +54-11-49648202-33 Fax: +54-11-49648204
Received: April 12, 2006
Revised: April 28, 2006
Accepted: June 14, 2006
Published online: September 7, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To determine prevalence of H pylori infection in symptomatic children in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and to investigate factors associated with H pylori positivity.

METHODS: A total of 395 children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms referred to the Gastroente-rology Unit of the Children Hospital “Sor Maria Ludovica” were evaluated for the presence of H pylori by the 13C-Urea Breath Test (13C-UBT). A questionnaire was applied to the recruited population.

RESULTS: Prevalence of H pylori infection was 40.0% in this population (mean age 9.97 ± 3.1 years). The factors associated with H pylori positivity were number of siblings (P < 0.001), presence of pet cats (P = 0.03) and birds (P = 0.04) in the household, and antecedents of gastritis among family members (P = 0.01). After multivariate analysis, number of siblings [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.20-1.61] and contact with pet cats (OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.00-3.09) remained as variables associated with H pylori infection.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H pylori infection in children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms in Argentina was similar to that reported in developed countries. Children from families with a higher crowding index and presence of pet cats have a higher risk of being colonized with H pylori.

Keywords: H pylori; Children; Epidemiology; Urea breath test; Prevalence