HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN CHILDREN - RELATION WITH CURRENT HOUSEHOLD LIVING-CONDITIONS

Background-Studies demonstrating that deprived household living condit ions during childhood are risk factors for acquisition of Helicobacter pylori infection have been performed mainly in adults, who probably a cquired the infection several decades ago. This study investigates whe ther deprived household living conditions remain important risk factor s for infection in subjects (children) with recently acquired infectio n. Aims-To examine the relation between current household living condi tions and acquisition of H pylori infection in childhood. Subjects/set ting-Opportunistically recruited group of 367 children, aged 3 to 15 y ears, undergoing routine non-gastrointestinal day surgery. Methods-Ant i-H pylori IgG antibodies measured by a commercial enzyme linked immun osorbent assay validated for use in children. Postal questionnaire col lecting sociodemographic data and data on household living conditions. Results-Infection was associated with social class overcrowding in th e household. adjustment for age, social class, and household density, a positive association remained between infection with H pylori and be d-sharing between children and parents on one or two nights per week, odds ratio for infection (95% CI), 2.29 (1.21, 4.32) or more frequentl y, odds ratio for infection (95% CI), 2.95 (1.35, 6.45). Conclusions-T he continuing importance of household living conditions in the acquisi tion of H pylori infection is confirmed and household crowding and sha ring a bed with a parent are identified as risk factors for infection.