Estimation of the Parasitic Infection Prevalence in Children With Helicobacter pylori Infection in Ilam City (2012-2013)

Background: Helicobacter pylori is a common cause of chronic infection in human beings. The infection has universal prevalence and contracts all age groups. Probably, these bacteria are the cause of the most common chronic bacterial infection in man and have infected approximately half of the world population. The urease of these bacteria degrades the urea in stomach's mucosa to ammoniac which results pH increment of the stomach lumen. This may allow the pathogenic intestinal protozoa to take the opportunity to cross through stomach's decreased pH situation and cause the disease. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of parasitic infections (such as giardiasis) in children with Helicobacter pylori infection in Ilam city. Patients and Methods: Following the sample collection during 12 months from children in Ilam (Ilam, Iran), Helicobacter pylori infection was determined based on stool antigen analysis (HPSA) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in children who had recurrent abdominal pain. Stool specimens were examined by the direct examination and spontaneous sedimentation method to detect both trophozoite and cyst of parasites. Results: In this study 37 children with H. pylori infection were evaluated, and the patients with positive results for Giardia lamblia, and Entamoebahistolytica/dispar were found 29.7%, and 10.8% respectively. Conclusions: The results of the current study suggest that H. pylori infection may provide favorable conditions for Giardiasis infection, but this presumption needs to be investigated further with more samples.