The administrative project of Helicobacter pylori infection screening among junior high school students in an area of Japan with a high incidence of gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Helicobacter pylori infection is a common chronic infection that is closely associated with gastric cancer, known to be decreasing worldwide. We set up an administrative project of screening examination for H. pylori infection in junior high school students in Akita Prefecture to investigate the current prevalence of H. pylori infection in childhood in an area where the incidence of gastric cancer is particularly high.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All students in their second or third year of junior high school (13 to 15 years old) in two cities in Akita Prefecture were recruited. First, a urine-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of H. pylori antibody was performed. Then, a (13)C-urea breath test ((13)C-UBT) was carried out in students who tested positive on the urinary test. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants and their parents.

RESULTS: A total of 1813 students were recruited in this study; 1765 (97.3%) students agreed to participate in this project and underwent a screening examination. Among 96 students (5.4%) testing positive for H. pylori on the initial screening examination, 90 (93.7%, 90/96) underwent a subsequent (13)C-UBT, and 85 (4.8%, 85/1765) were diagnosed as positive for H. pylori.

CONCLUSIONS: The current prevalence of H. pylori infection among students was low even in an area of Japan with a high incidence of gastric cancer.