Abstract

Background: H. pylori infection is the most common microbial infection in the world. It has a long history of a relationship with individuals, so the accurate and early diagnosis of H. pylori infection is a relevant problem. H. pylori stool antigen test is a reliable, very good, and reasonably priced screening test for H. pylori infection, both before and after eradication that could identify foreign proteins (antigens) in stool samples that are related with H. pylori infection. Therefore, this test has been proposed for the diagnosis of infection.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of H. pylori infection and its correlation to anthropometric measures in children aged (2-12) years in pediatric outpatient clinic in Zagazig University Hospital.
Methods: This cross sectional study comprised67 children their ages were from two to twelve years. H. pylori stool antigen test was done for all children recruited in this study, by a microplate-based ELISA assay.
Results: Among studied group, a total of 36 children (53.7%) had positive H. pylori stool antigen test who suffered from gastro intestinal symptoms especially recurrent abdominal pain. There was no statistically significant difference between H. pylori +ve &H. pylori –ve infected children as regarding all the anthropometric measures. H. pylori infection was correlated with abdominal distension.
Conclusion: frequency of H. pylori infection in children still high and a prevalent condition .We need further studies in this subject. H. pylori infection did not affect growth.