TITLE:
Helicobacter pylori Infection (Hp) among Children in the Northern Benin in 2018
AUTHORS:
J. Agossou, K. Alassan Saké, F. Mohamed Agbeille, A. Noudamadjo, S. Gasso, M. G. Kpanidja, J. D. Adédémy, Z. R. Ahodègnon
KEYWORDS:
Helicobacter pylori, Child, Northern Benin
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.10 No.1,
January
20,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: Hp infection is the most common chronic
bacterial infection in developing countries and is contracted especially in
childhood where it remains silent. Because of its involvement in the genesis of
certain cancers, the WHO has classified Hp in the category of carcinogen
class I. The aim of this study was to determine the
prevalence of Hp infection among children from a District in Northern Benin, and to identify the factors associated
with it. Patients and methods: This scientific investigation is a
cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study based on a prospective
collection of data carried out from July to September 2018. Recruitment was
probabilistic; it was based on the WHO cluster sampling technique implemented
among children aged 3 to 10 years without recent history of antibiotic treatment and proton pump inhibitors. Hp infection
was diagnosed during the search for bacteria antigen in the feces through a
quick Elisa test which proved positive. Results: We included 250 children in the study. Among them, 151 (60.4%) had Hp infection. 79 (52.3%) out of the 151
infected children were female, i.e. a
sex ratio of 0.91. Mean age for those
infected children was 6 ± 2.3 years. Among the 151 children infected with Hp, 98 (64.9%) were
asymptomatic. Factors associated with that infection were: children’s age >
5 years (p = 0.0461),
use of contaminated drinking water (p = 0.0001), meals away from home (p = 0.0039), mothers’ low
educational status (p = 0.0137) and low monthly income (p = 0.0116) as well as
household size > 3 (p = 0.0002). Conclusion: Hp infection is common among
children aged 3 to 10 years in Northern Benin. Often asymptomatic, it is
facilitated and exacerbated by unsanitary conditions and low socioeconomic
status.