Inverse Relationship between Gastric Colonization of Helicobacter pylori and Diarrheal Illnesses in Children: Results of a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

D Rothenbacher, MJ Blaser, G Bode… - The Journal of …, 2000 - academic.oup.com
D Rothenbacher, MJ Blaser, G Bode, H Brenner
The Journal of infectious diseases, 2000academic.oup.com
It has been suggested that carriage of Helicobacter pylori may protect against infections by
exogenous intestinal pathogens. An analysis was done of all children who were screened
for school fitness during 1996–1998 in Ulm, Germany, to compare rates of diarrheal
illnesses in H. pylori—positive and H. pylori—negative children. Of 2477 5–8-year-old
children studied, 304 (12.3%) were H. pylori-positive by carbon 13—labeled urea breath
test. For H. pylori—positive children, diarrhea within the prior 3 months was less often …
Abstract
It has been suggested that carriage of Helicobacter pylori may protect against infections by exogenous intestinal pathogens. An analysis was done of all children who were screened for school fitness during 1996–1998 in Ulm, Germany, to compare rates of diarrheal illnesses in H. pylori—positive and H. pylori—negative children. Of 2477 5–8-year-old children studied, 304 (12.3%) were H. pylori-positive by carbon 13—labeled urea breath test. For H. pylori—positive children, diarrhea within the prior 3 months was less often reported than for H. pylori—negative children (54.3% vs. 76.1%; P < .001, adjusted for nationality). Compared with H. pylori—negative children, the odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of diarrhea within the prior 3 months was 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28–0.49) for H. pylori—positive children; after adjustment for covariates, the OR was 0.56 (95% CI, 0.42–0.76). These data support the hypothesis that H. pylori colonization may protect against diarrheagenic gastrointestinal infections.
Oxford University Press