Correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastrointestinal symptoms in pregnancy

Nausea, vomiting, and other dyspeptic symptoms are common in pregnancy. Thi s hospital-based, cross-sectional study was designed to determine the role of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms during p regnancy. Standardized verbal scales were used to evaluate the frequency an d severity of GI symptoms in 54 women whose pregnancies were in the first 1 6 gestational weeks H. pylori infection was defined as a positive serum imm unoglobulin G result on an immunochromatographic assay. The H. pylori serop ositivity rate was higher in the pregnant women (69%) than in the general p opulation (similar to 50%-55%), but seropositivity did not correlate with c linical symptoms. Moreover, no specific patterns of GI symptoms were uncove red in the H. pylori-infected patients. Maternal age, body weight, parity, gestational week, and educational level were not associated with H. pylori infection; neither were the prevalence and severity of GI symptoms.