Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Children, a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study in West Iran

Abstract

Objective

In developing countries, Helicobacter pylori infection is mainly acquired during childhood and may be a predisposing factor for peptic ulcer or gastric cancer later in life. Noninvasive diagnostic tools are particularly useful in children for screening tests and epidemiological studies. We aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection among Kurdish children in Sanandaj, West Iran.

Methods

We used a Helicobacter Pylori Stool Antigen (HpSA) test to detect H. pylori infection. A questionnaire was used to collect data about age, sex, duration of breastfeeding, and family size. A total of 458 children aged 4 months to 15 years were enrolled in this study.

Findings

The mean age of enrolled children was 5.6±5.4 years. Stool samples were positive for H. pylori in 294 (64.2%) children. The prevalence of H. pylori infection increased with age (P<0.001). We found a significant increase in the infection rate as the family size grew (P=0.005). There was no correlation between a positive H. pylori status and gender (P=0.6) or the duration of breastfeeding (P=0.8).

Conclusion

It seems that the prevalence of H. pylori infection is very high in children in Sanandaj. It begins at early infancy (before 4th month of age) and cumulatively increases with age.

Introduction

Helicobacter pylori colonizes over 50% of people worldwide[1]. Colonization is usually acquired during childhood and is the most common cause of chronic gastritis. It is also associated with duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. In developing countries, its prevalence is relatively high. In children, the prevalence of H. pylori ranges from less than 10% to over 80%. The risk factors for H. pylori infection include socioeconomic status, household crowding, ethnicity, migration from high prevalence regions, and infection status of family members.

The aim of this study was to determine some epidemiological aspects of the infection among children in Sanandaj, which is the center of Kurdistan province in west Iran with a population of about 400000.

Subjects and Methods

This cross-sectional population-based study was based on samples of 4-month to 15-year-old children. The children were divided into six age groups (4 months, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 years old). Samples were collected from children aged 3-5 months, 10-14 months, 22-26 months, 4.5-5.5 years, 9-11 years, and 14-16 years for each group respectively. The lower age groups were selected randomly from healthy children who referred to primary healthcare centers for vaccination and the older ones were from 12 schools with different socioeconomic status across the city. We used simple random sampling in both lower and upper age groups. There was a list of children in both health care centers and also in schools. We used a computer program to generate random numbers in order to draw a selected group of cases from lists. The sample size calculation was based on at least 30% prevalence rate, 5% precision, and 95% confidence interval, computed from previous epidemiological studies[2–4].

The data were collected in two phases: an interview with the mothers or participating children during April–July 2007, and the screening of the children for H. pylori infection during June–September 2007. All procedures and tests were carefully explained to the parents of patients informed consent was obtained.

The data regarding age, sex, duration of breastfeeding, family size, previous antibiotic usage, and infection status were recorded for each child. No child was tested within a week of taking antibiotics.

A total of 458 stool samples were collected randomly from the children in all six age groups including 4 months, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 years old. The Helicobacter stool antigen test was used to detect the infection. Stool antigen test has the sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 93%[5–9]. The stool assay was performed using the DIA.PRO Hp SA test (DIA.PRO, Diagnostic Bioprobes Srl, Milano, Italy). This assay is a microplates-based enzyme immunoassay. Microplates are coated with a cocktail of affinity purified mouse monoclonal antibodies directed to the most specific H. pylori antigens. Stool samples were collected using a kit consisting of a plastic spoon used to scoop a small amount of stool from the toilet paper or bowl into an airtight container. The samples were frozen at a temperature below −20°C as described in the kit until analyses were performed.

In the 1^st incubation, the solid phase was treated with the sample, previously extracted from the stools, and simultaneously with a mixture of monoclonal antibodies to H. pylori, conjugated with peroxidase (HRP). After washing out all the other components of the sample, in the 2^nd incubation, the bound enzyme specifically presented on the solid phase generated an optical signal. The color developed in the presence of the bound enzyme, which was proportional to the amount of H. pylori antigens present in the sample. Stop solution was added and the results were inspected spectrophotometrically at 450 nm within 15 min of adding the stop solution. A visual determination might also be made within 15 min but we used spectrophotometry in this study to provide reproducible results. Positive and negative controls were built into the test as internal controls.

Internal Quality Control: The controls/calibrator was checked any time the kit was used in order to verify whether the expected optical density at 450nm (OD450nm) or sample OD450nm/Cut-Off value (S/Co) values have been matched in the analysis. The following parameters have been met continuously as recommended in the kit package-insert (Table 1)[10]. Calculations of results were made using both quantitative and qualitative assays.

Table 1.

Requirements for quality control

Parameter	Requirements
Blank well	< 0.100 OD450nm* value
CAL ‡ 0 ug/ml	< 0.200 mean OD450nm value after blanking
CAL 0.1 ug/ml	OD450nm > OD450nm CAL 0 ug/ml + 0.100
CAL 1 ug/ml	> 1.000 OD450nm value

^*OD450nm: Optical Density at 450nm

^‡CAL: Calibrator

Quantitative Assay: The mean OD450nm value of the calibrators was calculated. Then a calibration curve was drawn using a 4 parameters fitting curve system. The concentration of HP antigen in the sample was calculated on the curve.

Qualitative Assay: The test results were calculated by means of a cut-off value determined from the O450nm value of the CAL 0ug/ml (CAL 0) and the OD450nm of the CAL 0.1 ug/ml (CAL 0.1) with the following formula:

Cut-Off = (CAL 0 + CAL 0.1) / 2

Interpretation of results: In the quantitative assay, samples showing a concentration of H. pylori antigen higher than 0.05 ug/ml was considered positive. For the qualitative assay, test results were interpreted as a ratio of the sample OD450nm (S) and the Cut-off value (Co), mathematically S/Co, according to the following rules: S/Co of less than 1.00 was considered negative and means that the child is not infected by H. pylori, S/Co of 1.0–1.1 was considered as undetermined and the child retested on a second sample, and S/Co of greater than 1.1 was considered positive. Samples with undetermined results on retesting were classified as noninfected. The statistical analyses were performed using the Epi info version 3.3.2 and SPSS software (version 12) to estimate crude odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Chi square test was used as appropriate and P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Findings

The prevalence rates of H. pylori infection based on age and sex are shown in Table 2. The mean age of enrolled children was 5.6±5.4 years.

Table 2.

Prevalence of H. pylori infection in different age groups and sexes

Age	Total number in each age group	Total positive test in each age group	Number of female patients	Number of female patients with positive test	Number of male patients	Number of male patients with positive test
4 months	78	34 (43.6%)	41	18(44%)	37	16 (43%)
one year	73	30 (41.1%)	34	17 (50%)	39	13(33%)
2 years	78	52 (66.7%)	43	26 (60%)	35	26(74%)
5 years	76	59 (77.6%)	40	29 (72%)	36	30 (83%)
10 years	73	47 (64.4%)	29	18 (62%)	44	29 (66%)
15 years	80	72 (90%)	40	35 (87.5%)	40	37 (92.5%)
Total	458	294 (64.2%)	227	143 (63%)	231	151 (65%)

There were increasing prevalence rates of H. pylori infection with increasing age in all age groups (χ²=98.81, P<0.001) with a transient decrease in one and 10-year-old groups (Fig. 1). There were no significant differences between sexes in prevalence of H. pylori infection within each group nor between groups (P=0.6, χ²=0.28, Odds ratio = 1.1, ^95%CI [0.76 < OR < 1.63]).

Fig. 1.

Prevalence of H. pylori by age group

Table 3 shows the prevalence of H pylori infection based on family size. We found a significant increase in infection rate as the family size grew (P=0.005, χ²=10.55). In order to study the epidemiological effect of breastfeeding on H. pylori infection, we investigated the rate of H. pylori infection and the duration of breastfeeding in 1- to 15-year-old children (Table 4). There was no significant decrease in infection rate as the duration of breastfeeding increased (P=0.8).

Table 3.

Prevalence of H. pylori infection based on family size

Family size	Infection rate	Number of children in each group
3	67 (53.2%)	126
4	90 (64.7%)	139
≥5	137 (71%)	193
total	294 (64.2%)	458

(P=0.005, χ²=10.55)

Table 4.

Prevalence of H. pylori Infection based on duration of breastfeeding in children aged 1-15 years

Duration of breastfeeding	Number (percent) of children		Total
	Infected	Non-infected
No breast feeding	13 (76%)	4 (24%)	17
<6 months	6 (67%)	3 (33%)	9
≥6 months	241 (68%)	113 (34%)	354
Total	260 (68%)	120 (32%)	380

χ²=0.54 P= 0.8

Discussion

We found widespread H. pylori infection in children in our community. Infection with H. pylori is acquired in as early as 4 months of age and even earlier. At 4 months of age at least 43% of children were positive for H. pylori antigen. By 2 years of age 66.7% of children were positive for H. pylori antigen. Approximately 64.2% of all children were infected before they were teens. Infection rate is cumulative with increasing age and maximize at upper age group of 15 years old.

There are significant differences in the prevalence of infection worldwide and even in various parts of any specific country, which is closely related to socioeconomic status and overcrowding. In developing countries, the prevalence rate is high. The prevalence increases generally with age, but decreases have been noted in narrow age ranges in childhood[4, 11–13].

There are many reports of the declining prevalence of H. pylori over brief intervals in childhood[14–17]. Spontaneous elimination of H. pylori infection may be the reason of the declining prevalence in 10 years age group[14, 18–20]. Other explanations are better attention to health issues in older children or use of antibiotics for other infectious diseases [21–25], differences in types of H. pylori in adults in comparison with children, and differences in special gastric receptors[26]. However, these cannot explain second peak of prevalence in 15 years age group.

There are few reports about the prevalence rates of H. pylori infection in different age groups of Iranian children[2–3]. Most of these earlier studies had been done on considerably wide ranges of age groups, and did not include children younger than 1–2 years old.

The age dependent acquisition of H. pylori antigen determined in our study is consistent with previous studies from developing countries[4, 12, 17]. Some reports from developing countries show that most infants have high infection rate early in their life, which can reach 50% by 2 years of age[4, 14, 23].

We found no statistical difference between the rates of prevalence in male and female populations. This is consistent with the results of most other studies[4, 23]. The effects of family size on the prevalence of helicobacter were investigated in several studies[14, 27–29]. Many environmental factors are related to an increased prevalence of infection, but the most powerful one has been the number of children residing in the house. In our study, the difference in the prevalence rate of infection between small families in comparison with larger families (Table 2) was statistically significant.

Since the children were selected randomly, the number of children in the non-breastfed group was very low to evaluate the protective effect of breastfeeding on H. pylori infection more efficiently. The duration of breastfeeding did not have a statistically consistent effect on the rate of infection. The presence of many risk factors for H. pylori infection in the community leading to high rates of infection probably obscured the protective effects of breastfeeding, if any, on H. pylori infection. A more selective study is needed to investigate the protective effects of breastfeeding on H. pylori infection in our country as described in previous reports from other regions[30].

Many studies indicate that stool antigen test is a sensitive and specific mean to diagnose H. pylori infection[31–33]. In 2000, a consensus report[34] stated that two non-invasive tests, urea breath test and stool antigen test, could be used both safely and cost effectively to screen patients (below the age of 45) who were positive for H. pylori without alarming symptoms: “Non-invasive tests are useful for primary diagnosis, when a treatment indication already exists, or to monitor treatment success or failure”[34].

Few recent studies denote lesser sensitivity for some commercial kits[33, 35]. Sensitivity for three commercial kits (Premier Platinum Hp SA, FemtoLab Cnx, and Dia. Pro Hp Ag) was reported to be 63.6%, 88.0%, 56.0% respectively. However, the specificity was high for all tests (reported 97.6% for Dia. Pro Hp Ag). Recently, a systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that the monoclonal technique had a higher sensitivity than the polyclonal one[5]. HpSA assay has been proven to be a highly reliable and simple to use test for the diagnosis of H. pylori. This has been recently re-emphasized by experts[36].

Conclusion

The prevalence of H. pylori infection in children is very high in Sanandaj, beginning at early infancy (before 4 months of age) and is cumulative with increasing age.

Conflict of Interest

None