GROWTH IN INFANCY, INFANT-FEEDING, CHILDHOOD LIVING-CONDITIONS, AND HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION AT AGE-70

Aim-to examine childhood correlates of Helicobacter pylori infection i n adults. Design-Follow up study of men and women whose birth weight, weight at age 1 year, and feeding in infancy were recorded by health v isitors. Data on childhood housing conditions were obtained by recall. Subjects-631 men and 389 women born in Hertfordshire during 1920-30 a nd still living in the east and northwest districts of the county. Mai n outcome measures-Serum H pylori IgG antibodies measured by enzyme li nked immunosorbent assay. Result-Independent of their current social c lass, subjects were more likely to be H pylori seropositive if they ha d large numbers of siblings (p < 0.0001), and if they had lived in a c rowded house (p = 0.001), or shared a bedroom or bed in childhood (p = 0.02). Low weight at 1 year was associated with increased seropositiv ity rates in men (p = 0.0002), but not women (p = 0.8). Men and women who were breast fed in infancy were less likely to be seropositive tha n those who were bottle fed (p = 0.08). Conclusions-The findings suppo rt the current view that H pylori infection is often acquired in child hood by close person to person contact, and persists into adult life. H pylori infection may be a cause of failure to thrive in infancy, esp ecially in boys. Alternatively, small infants may be more susceptible to infection. Breast feeding may prevent early infection.