Helicobacter pylori in school children from the Western province of Sri Lanka

Background, Little is known about the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Sri Lanka and nothing is known about its prevalence in children. Therefore the prevalence of H. pylori in a group of school children in Sri Lanka was determined. Materials and Methods. The presence of H. pylori colonisation was determine d by detection of faecal antigen and salivary antibody (IgG) by enzyme immu ne assay, in 184 children aged between 5 and 19 years, in the Western Provi nce-Colombo district of Sri Lanka. Results. Overall, only 12/184 (6.5%) had detectable H. pylori antigen in th eir stools and were considered infected with H. pylori, while 51/184 (27.7% ) had H. pylori IgG in saliva. H. pylori salivary IgG declined with age whi le H. pylori antigen detection increased with age. H. pylori infection, as determined by salivary antibody (66%), was greater in children living in ov ercrowded conditions, although this was not statistically significant. Conclusion, The prevalence of H. pylori among school children in Sri Lanka was 6.5% by detection of faecal antigen and 27.7% by detection of salivary antibody, respectively. Initial infection with H, pylori appeared to occur in early childhood whilst active disease began in late childhood. Overcrowd ing appears to facilitate the transmission of the organism. Overall the pre valence of H. pylori was low in Sri Lanka compared with other countries in South-east Asia.