Nutritional status of Helicobacter pylori-infected children in Guatemala as compared with uninfected peers

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 61; no. 3; pp. 395 - 398
• Main Authors: Quinonez, JM, Chew, F, Torres, O, Begue, RE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS ASTMH 01.09.1999; Allen Press
• Subjects: Age Factors; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Biological and medical sciences; Body Height; Body Weight; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Guatemala; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter Infections - microbiology; Helicobacter Infections - physiopathology; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori - immunology; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Nutritional Status; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tropical medicine; Guatemala; Central America; America; Human; Infection; Spirillales; Helicobacter pylori; Spirillaceae; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Child; Nutritional status; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0002-9637; 1476-1645
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1999.61.395

The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on the nutritional status of children in a developing country was studied using a cross-sectional design. Children attending an all-girl public school in inner Guatemala City, Guatemala were evaluated to acquire sociodemographic information and anthropometric nutritional parameters (weight-for-height [WFH] and height-for-age [HFA]), and detect H. pylori-specific serum IgG antibodies. Of 211 children 5-10 years of age, 107 (51%) were infected. The WFH values were not different between infected and uninfected subjects, and were not affected by the sociodemographic variables. The HFA values decreased significantly with age (P = 0.008), lower income (P = 0.04), and H. pylori infection (P = 0.05). When controlled for age and income level, the effect of infection on HFA became nonsignificant (P = 0.30). Helicobacter pylori appeared to have no effect on the nutritional status of the studied children; the differences detected were small and likely due to sociodemographic factors.