Abstract

RUIZ ALVAREZ, Vladimir; MARIN JULIA, Silvia María  and  HERNANDEZ TRIANA, Manuel. Helicobacter pylori and diarrhea in children. Rev Cubana Hig Epidemiol [online]. 2005, vol.43, n.2. ISSN 0253-1751.

The infection caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is widely spread in the developing countries. Chronic gastritis produced by the gastric colonization with this bacteria provokes hypochlorhydria, which may compromise the acid barrier of the stomach, important defense of the host against the infections of the small intestine. In order to determine the possible association between the infection due to this bacteria and diarrheal disease, a case-control study was conducted in 2004 among 60 children under 3 years old from Havana City that were affected with acute or persistent diarrheas and malnutrition. The presence of IgG antibodies against H. Pylori in serum from 30 children affected with acute or chronic diarrheas and malnutrition was studied by immunoessay and compared with the results of 30 apparently sound children without diarrhea that were matched by sex and age. The prevalence of infection was 64 % in children with diarrhea and 50 % in the controls. No association was found between the presence of H. Pylori and the diarrheal disease.

Keywords : Helicobacter pylori; diarrhea; malnutrition; children; cases and controls; serology; antibodies.

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