Prevalence and Risk Factors ofHelicobacter pyloriInfection among Children Aged 1 to 15 Years at Holy Innocents Children’s Hospital, Mbarara, South Western Uganda

Abstract

Background.Helicobacter pyloriinfection affects more than half of the world’s population. The infection is generally acquired during childhood but can remain asymptomatic, with long-term clinical sequelae including gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and stomach cancer.Methods. The study was approved by Institutional Review Committee of Mbarara University of Science and Technology. After obtaining informed consent from parents/legal guardians, illegible children who presented with gastrointestinal complaints at Holy Innocents Children’s Hospital were recruited; structured questionnaires were administered to the parents/guardians to collect information on sociodemographic data and risk factors ofH. pyloriinfection. Four (4) millilitres of blood was collected from each child and tested forH.pyloriblood Antibody test and stool specimens were used forH. pyloriantigen test.Results. The prevalence ofH. pyloriinfection among the study participants was 24.3%. The infection rate increased with increase in age of the participants, from 16.2% among 1to 5 years old to 27.2% among 6 to 10 years. Infections were higher among school going children (68/74, p=0.003, OR 3.9; CI: 1.5 to 10.6) and children from crowded households (59/74, p<0.001, OR 2.6, and CI 1.3 to 5.0), unsafe source of drinking water at schools (46/74, p=0.003), and lack of sanitary facility at homes (57/74, p=0.001, and OR 1.6 CI 0.7 to 3.6).Conclusion. The prevalence ofH. pyloriinfection among children aged 1 to 15 years at Holy Innocents Children’s Hospital was high and increases with age. School attendance, lack of sanitary facility, lack of safe drinking water, and overcrowding were the risk factors associated withH. pyloriinfection.