Epidemiological and Clinical-Pathological Aspects of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Brazilian Children and Adults.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of H. pylori infection in the pediatric and adult population seen at a public hospital in São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.

Methods: This is a retrospective study that evaluated 2406 medical records of children, adolescents, and adults with dyspeptic symptoms who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. H. pylori diagnosis and demographic and clinical-pathological features were recorded.

Results: A total of 852 subjects were H. pylori positive, with an overall prevalence of infection of 35.4%, occurring mainly in adults over 40 years of age, and a 24.7% prevalence considering only children and adolescents. No association was observed between H. pylori infection and risk factors. However, the H. pylori positive individuals showed a higher frequency of pangastritis ( p < 0.01), severe lesions ( p = <0.001), and erosive lesions ( p = 0.04). The bacterium was eradicated in 83.5% (127) of the patients who received the standard therapy.

Conclusions: The prevalence of H. pylori detected in a public service in São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil, is as expected for developed countries, showing growing rates with increasing age. As H. pylori infection occurs during childhood, screening programs for detection and prevention in the pediatric population are important to reduce the prevalence of this infection in adults.