Prevalencia da infecção pelo Helicobacter pylori em crianças ate 12 anos de idade

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2003

RESUMO

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a small curved and S-shaped Gram negative bacilli, with up to five sheathed flagelae arising from one end. The bacteria has been associated to some histological changes and gastroduodenal diseases, among which active chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban area of Teresina, a city situated in the Northeast of Brazil, the poorest region of the country. The aims of this study were to determine (a) the prevalence of active H. pylori infection in asymptomatic children, in 0.5?12-year-olds, (b) the age-distribuition pattern during childhood, and (c) the relationships with factors such as SES (including family income, housing and sanitary conditions) and gender. Data collect was carried out in a community base, by sampling, at random, in a zone of the city inhabited by population groups with different SES and available sanitary infrastructure, though they have lived in adjacent areas. This zone includes concentrated areas of high and middle classes families along with powerty areas in shantytowns with mud wallet dwellings for the very low income families. The global population that participated in this study was constituted of 303 children, divided in two groups: group I, composed of 169 children from low income families, and group II composed of 134 from families with higher incomes and standards of living. Of the eligible study population, 163 (53,8%) were males and 140 (46,2%) females. The diagnostic method used in this study was a noninvasive enzyme linked imuneassay (ELISA) that detects H. pylori specific antigen (HpSA) in selected faeces samples, employing anti-HpSA policlonal antibody absorbed in microwells. Overall 303 stool samples analysed, 115 (38.0%) were HpSA positive. Low income population (group I) presented greater prevalence rates, equivalent to 55.0%, while in high income population (group II) the prevalence was only 16.4%. In both groups, it was very clear that H. pylori infection occurs early in childhood since a very young ages and increases gradually with age. It was found that the prevalence rates, in accordance with gender, was not considered statistically significant. This study has shown that low family income, precarious conditions of living, housing and sanitary infrastructure can play an important role in H. pylori infection acquisition. On the other hand, there was a clear relationship between low H. pylori prevalence with high standards of living. In fact, the low prevalence observed in high SES group, similar to the rates showed in developed countries, may be linked to improvements in hygiene pratices and standards of living

ASSUNTO(S)

teste imunoenzimatico epidemiologia diagnostico helicobacter pylori

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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