Frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection in 144 school age Chilean children Prevalencia de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en niños: Estimando la edad de adquisición

Abstract

Background: A 73% prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was estimated in adults in the 2003 Chilean National Health Survey. However, this infection is usually acquired during childhood. Aim: To determine the frequency of H. pylori infection in healthy Chilean children from a school in Santiago. Material and Methods: A cross sectional study in a private/ subsidized school in Santiago. Children aged less than 18 years were invited to participate. The parents of those who accepted answered a demographic survey and a stool sample was obtained from participants to detect H. pylori antigen using a monoclonal antibody ELISA kit. Results: We studied 144 students aged 10.6 ± 3.1 years (54% females). Twenty six participants (18.1%, 95% CI: 12.4-24.9%) had a positive test. Children from higher socioeconomic levels had a non-significant lower frequency of infection. No differences in the frequency of infection were observed by age, gender, household type or number of people living in it or h