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Unique features and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection at the main children’s intermediate school in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

Background

This study was conducted to determine characters and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection and its relationship with recurrent abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms at the main children’s intermediate school in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted at a boys’ intermediate school. A questionnaire for the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and relevant personal and socioeconomic risk factors related to H. pylori infection was distributed followed by H. pylori IgG antibody assay and 14C urea breath test to detect active infection.

Results

H. pylori was diagnosed by positive urea breath test in 51.5 % of students. H. pylori infection was symptomatic with at least one upper GI symptom in 89.7 % of infected students which was higher than symptomatic cases reported in any other study. H. pylori-infected students had significantly more association with the presence of any upper GI symptom (p < 0.001), recurrent abdominal pain (p < 0.001), anorexia (p < 0.001), nausea (p < 0.026), family history of peptic disease (p < 0.001), drinking desalinated municipal water (p < 0.001), lower income (p = 0.02), and eating outside home (p = 0.003) than uninfected students. Logistic regression analysis showed that the most significant predictors of H. pylori infection were presence of any upper GI symptom (OR 5.3, 95 % CI 2.32–15.71), family history of peptic disease (OR 2.2, 95 % CI 1.11–3.9), and drinking desalinated municipal water (OR 2.1, 95 % CI 1.09–3.2).

Conclusions

This study presented unique features and risk factors of H. pylori infection in 12–15-year-old Saudi boys in Rabigh, and mainly supported the role of H. pylori in causing recurrent abdominal pain.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant number (332/140/1431). The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR for the technical and financial support. The participation of the Master Degree holders Fawaz Saddek, Rasheed Babekr, and Abdullah Alnour and of the 4th year and some 3rd year medical students, Rabigh College of Medicine, is gratefully acknowledged.

Conflict of interest

HSH, MAH, HAM, EMA, TFH, and BSE all declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics statement

The study was performed in a manner to conform to the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000 and 2008 concerning Human and Animal Rights, and the authors followed the policy concerning informed consent as shown on Springer.com.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Department, Rabigh Medical College, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Hamed Said Habib, Moustafa Abdelaal Hegazi & Taher Fawzy Halawa

  2. Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rabigh Medical College, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Hussam Aly Murad

  3. Parasitology, Rabigh Medical College, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Elamir Mahmoud Amir

  4. Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Basem Salama El-Deek

Authors
  1. Hamed Said Habib
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  2. Moustafa Abdelaal Hegazi
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  3. Hussam Aly Murad
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  4. Elamir Mahmoud Amir
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  5. Taher Fawzy Halawa
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  6. Basem Salama El-Deek
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Moustafa Abdelaal Hegazi.

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Habib, H.S., Hegazi, M.A., Murad, H.A. et al. Unique features and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection at the main children’s intermediate school in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. Indian J Gastroenterol 33, 375–382 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-014-0463-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-014-0463-1

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