Helicobacter pylori in uinvestigated dyspepsia in primary cares in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Ugwuja, Emmanuel Ike and Ugwu, Nicholas Chukwuka (2007) Helicobacter pylori in uinvestigated dyspepsia in primary cares in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences, 6 (1). pp. 1-8. ISSN 0972-5997

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Official URL: http://www.ojhas.org/issue21/2007-1-4.htm

Abstract

There is paucity of information on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Nigeria. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to H. pylori in 262 consecutive patients (aged 5.5-56 years) presenting with dyspepsia in primary health cares in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Sixty-nine (26.3%) of the patients had IgG antibodies to H. pylori. Significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori was recorded in older patients than in those ≤ 20 years [29% vs11% (95%CI: 0.072-0.288%)]. Infection was comparable between males and females [28% vs 25%, (95% CI: - 0.078 – 0.138)] but inversely related to the socio-economic status of patients [30.5% vs 14%. (95% CI: 0.054-0.28) and 30.3% vs 8.3% (95% CI: 0.053-0.391) between lower and middle and between lower and upper class respectively]. The high endemicity of H. pylori infection in this study needs confirmation in different settings and/or in the general population.

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