Inverse relationship between gastric colonization of Helicobacter pylori and diarrheal illnesses in children: Results of a population-based cross-sectional study

It has been suggested that carriage of Helicobacter pylori may protect agai nst infections by exogenous intestinal pathogens. An analysis was done of a ll children who were screened for school fitness during 1996-1998 in Ulm, G ermany, to compare rates of diarrheal illnesses in Ii. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative children. Of 2477 5-8-year-old children studied, 304 (12 .3%) were H. pylori-positive by carbon 13-labeled urea breath test. For Ii. pylori-positive children, diarrhea within the prior 3 months was less ofte n reported than for Il. pylori-negative children (54.3% vs. 76.1%; P < .001 , adjusted for nationality). Compared with H. pylori-negative children, the odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of diarrhea within the prior 3 months w as 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.49) for N. pylori-positive ch ildren; after adjustment for covariates, the OR was 0.56 (95% CI, 0.42-0.76 ). These data support the hypothesis that Ii. pylori colonization may prote ct against diarrheagenic gastrointestinal infections.