Five- to 7-year-old children with Helicobacter pylori infection are smaller than Helicobacter-negative children: A cross-sectional population-based study of 3,315 children
T. Richter et al., Five- to 7-year-old children with Helicobacter pylori infection are smaller than Helicobacter-negative children: A cross-sectional population-based study of 3,315 children, J PED GASTR, 33(4), 2001, pp. 472-475
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics,"Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND NUTRITION
Objective: To test whether Helicobacter pylori-positive children are smalle
r and weigh less than H pylori-negative children.
Design: Cross-sectional population-based study.
Participants: In 3,315 5- to 7-year-old preschool and school children, the
putative influence of H pylori infection on growth was investigated. Standi
ng height and weight were analyzed in relation to H pylori infection. The d
iagnosis of H pylori infection was established by C-(13)-urea-breath test.
Results: The prevalence of H pylori infection in buys was 7.2% (95% confide
nce interval, 5.9-8.9; n = 1,550) and in girls was 6.1% (95% confidence int
erval, 4.9-7.3; n = 1,552) H pylori-positive children were smaller than non
infected children (117.6 +/- 5.5 cm vs. 118.9 +/- 5.7 cm; P < 0.01). Althou
gh H pylori-positive boys were 2.06 cm smaller than H pylori-negative boys
(117.4 +/- 5.6 cm vs. 119.5 +/- 5.7 cm; P < 0.001), the difference in girls
was not significant (117.9 +/- 5.3 cm vs. 118.4 +/- 5.7 cm). When standing
height was adjusted for age, the found differences were more pronounced. D
ifferences between the infected and noninfected children with regard to bod
y weight were not significant (22.4 +/- 4.0 kg vs. 22.1 +/- 4.0 kg), nor wa
s there a significant difference with regard to body-mass index. However, b
oys with H pylori infection had a lower weight than noninfected boys (21.6
+/- 3.3 kg vs. 22.6 4.0 kg; P < 0.01), but in girls, these differences were
not observed (22.2 +/- 4.0 vs. 22.8 +/- 4.6 kg, respectively). When weight
was adjusted for age, H pylori-positive children also had a lower weight t
han H pylori-negative children because of the lower weight of boys.
Conclusions: H pylori infection is associated with growth delay, growth ret
ardation, or both in affected children.