Concomitant Infection of Helicobacter pylori and Intestinal Parasites in Children Attending Benha University Hospital

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Parasitology Department, Kasr Al Ainy School of Medicine, Cairo University

2 Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University.

Abstract

Background: Children frequently experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as diarrhoea and stomach pain. Intestinal parasites and Helicobacter pylori are prevalent causes of GI pain and important infectious pathogens burdening global public health. The present study's objective is to determine how H. pylori infections and related intestinal parasites affect paediatric patients' clinical presentation. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 70 children less than 18 years old of both sexes suffering from GI symptoms suggestive of intestinal parasitic or H. pylori infection and admitted to Benha University Hospitals' paediatric department. Every patient underwent a thorough history review, physical examination, and laboratory analysis. The source of the water supply, a history of GI manifestations such like diarrhoea, abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, vomiting, hematemesis, or rectal bleeding, as well as the results of the endoscopy. Patients were also tested for the presence of intestinal parasites and H. pylori infection by testing for H. pylori stool antigens, additionally, all stool samples were tested for the existence of helminthic and/or protozoal diseases. H. pylori caga virulence factor was analysed by real-time PCRResults: Twenty-six (37.1%) patients were positive for H. pylori infection, 23 (32.9%) had a parasitic infection and 21 (30.0%) had a concomitant infection (H. pylori and parasites).  Clinical manifestations (abdominal pain, abdominal distension, vomiting and diarrhea) were insignificantly different among the studied groups. Conclusions: Additional research is necessary to understand the mutual impact of co-infection between H. pylori and other parasites on immunological, molecular and ultrastructural levels, and the consequent effect on the emergence of various clinical presentations.

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