Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection Among Schoolchildren and Teachers in Taiwan

• Published in: Helicobacter (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2007-06, Vol.12 (3), p.258-264
• Main Authors: Lin, Ding-Bang, Lin, Jye-Bin, Chen, Chien-Yi, Chen, Shiuan-Chih, Chen, Wen-Kang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Child; Female; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter Infections - immunology; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Male; Prevalence; schoolchildren; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serologic Tests; seroprevalence; Taiwan; Taiwan - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1083-4389; 1523-5378; 1478-4041
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-5378.2007.00496.x

Background:  Helicobacter pylori are associated with chronic antral gastritis that is related to duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and probably gastric adenocarcinoma. Infection of H. pylori during childhood is considered an important risk factor for gastric carcinoma in adult life. Materials and Methods:  To examine the epidemiologic characteristics of H. pylori infection among schoolchildren in central Taiwan, a community‐based survey was carried out using stratified sampling in 10 elementary schools and three junior high schools including students and theirs teachers. Serum specimens of 1950 healthy schoolchildren (aged 9–15 years old) and 253 teachers who were randomly sampled were screened for the H. pylori antibodies by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed by using the spss for Windows statistical software system. Results:  A total of 332 subjects were H. pylori antibodies positive, giving an overall prevalence of 15.1%. The age‐specific seropositive rates were 11.0% in 9–12 years age group, 12.3% in 13–15 years age group, and 45.1% in the teacher group. The older the age, the higher the seroprevalence (OR = 11.53; 95% CI = 6.73–19.74; p