Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a rural area of the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 93; no. 2; pp. 171 - 174
• Main Authors: Souto, F J, Fontes, C J, Rocha, G A, de Oliveira, A M, Mendes, E N, Queiroz, D M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 01-03-1998; Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brazil - epidemiology; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; H. pylori; Health Surveys; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter pylori; Helicobacter pylori / epidemiology - H. pylori / socioeconomic level - H. pylori / crowding - H. pylori / Brazil; Humans; Male; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; PARASITOLOGY; Rural Population; Surveys and Questionnaires; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Brazil; Helicobacter pylori; H. pylori
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 0074-0276; 1678-8060
• DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02761998000200006

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was evaluated by ELISA
in 40 children and teenagers and in 164 adults from a rural area of the
State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Antibodies to H. pylori were detected in
the serum of 31 (77.5%) children and teenagers and in 139 (84.7%)
adults. The prevalence of infection increased with age (c^2 for trend,
p { 0.01) even though no variations occurred in the region in the
present century in terms of living conditions or sanitation, economical
development and migratory influx supporting the hypothesis that the
infection is also acquired during later life in developing countries.
An inverse correlation was observed between the prevalence of infection
and annual family income (c^2 for trend, p { 0.013). There was no
correlation between type of system for sewage disposal and prevalence
of infection (p = 0.8). In conclusion, the prevalence of H. pylori
infection in Nossa Senhora do Livramento, a rural area from Brazil, is
very high and similar to that observed in other developing countries.
Furthermore, the increase in the prevalence of infection with age
observed in this population seems to be due to both, cohort effect and
acquisition of the infection during later life.