THE PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION USING STOOL ANTIGEN IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SURULERE LGA, LAGOS STATE

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is known to cause chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric
adenocarcinoma and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and it is acquired in
childhood. There is limited knowledge about the prevalence and associations of H. pylori
using a non-invasive method like the monoclonal stool antigen test with a high sensitivity,
specificity and accuracy in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the current prevalence and
associated factors in apparently healthy Nigeria secondary school children in Surulere L.G.A
of Lagos state.
A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit two hundred and fifty nine apparently
healthy children, aged 11 – 18 years (106 males, 153 females). They were investigated in a
descriptive cross-sectional study for H. pylori infection using a monoclonal stool antigen test.
A pretested interview administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on the socio
demographic factors, housing condition, antibiotic use and abdominal pain. Their nutritional
status was also determined to identify factors associated with the infection.
The majority (51.7%) were aged 11 – 13 years while about half were from the middle socio
economic class. The overall prevalence of H. pylori was 49.0% in 259 secondary school
children. The age specific rates were 52.0% in children age 11 – 13 years, 43.3% in children
age 14 – 16 years and 4.7% in the age group 17 – 18 years. H. pylori was associated with
underweight malnutrition (p = 0.003) but no association was found with age, gender, type of
secondary school, Class category, maternal level of education, socioeconomic class,
overcrowding, type of drinking water, type of toilet, antibiotic use 2 weeks or 3 months prior
to testing and recurrent abdominal pain.

In conclusion, the prevalence of H. pylori infection is high among Nigerian secondary
school children particularly in those who are underweight. Routine screening of underweight
secondary school children for H. pylori is recommended. The long term effect of H. pylori
on the health of children needs to be further evaluated.

THE PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION USING STOOL ANTIGEN IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SURULERE LGA, LAGOS STATE