Research Articles

Nutritional status of Helicobacter pylori-infected children in Guatemala as compared with uninfected peers

The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on the nutritional status of children in a developing country was studied using a cross-sectional design. Children attending an all-girl public school in inner Guatemala City, Guatemala were evaluated to acquire sociodemographic information and anthropometric nutritional parameters (weight-for-height [WFH] and height-for-age [HFA]), and detect H. pylori-specific serum IgG antibodies. Of 211 children 5-10 years of age, 107 (51%) were infected. The WFH values were not different between infected and uninfected subjects, and were not affected by the sociodemographic variables. The HFA values decreased significantly with age (P = 0.008), lower income (P = 0.04), and H. pylori infection (P = 0.05). When controlled for age and income level, the effect of infection on HFA became nonsignificant (P = 0.30). Helicobacter pylori appeared to have no effect on the nutritional status of the studied children; the differences detected were small and likely due to sociodemographic factors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Ogura, S. Maeda, M. Nakao, T. Watanabe, M. Tada, T. Kyutoku, H. Yoshida, Y. Shiratori, and M. Omata Virulence Factors of Helicobacter pylori Responsible for Gastric Diseases in Mongolian Gerbil J. Exp. Med., December 4, 2000; 192(11): 1601 - 1610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. B Naficy, R. W Frenck, R. Abu-Elyazeed, Y. Kim, M. R Rao, S. J Savarino, T. F Wierzba, E. Hall, and J. D Clemens Seroepidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in a population of Egyptian children Int. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2000; 29(5): 928 - 932. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]