Epidemiological Features of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Developing Countries

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 25; no. 5; pp. 973 - 978
• Main Author: BARDHAN, P. K
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.11.1997; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adults; Age; Age groups; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Biological and medical sciences; Children; Developing Countries; Disease transmission; Environmental Exposure; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter Infections - transmission; Helicobacter pylori; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Incidence; Infections; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Prevalence; Second International Workshop on Helicobacter pylori Infections in the Developing World; Seroepidemiologic studies; Serology; Social Class; Tropical medicine; Asia; Bangladesh; Human; Prevalence; Socioeconomic status; Spirillales; Spirillaceae; Developing countries; Environmental factor; Epidemiology; Incidence; Infection; Campylobacter infection; Helicobacter pylori; Risk factor; Bacteriosis; Bacteria
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/516067

Helicobacter pylori infection has a worldwide distribution, and it has distinct epidemiological features in developing countries. In contrast to that in developed countries, H. pylori infection in developing countries seems to be nearly universal, beginning in early childhood. Children become infected in the first few months of life; in some communities as many as 50% of the children are infected by the age of 5 years, and up to 90% are infected by the time they reach adulthood. In some developing countries with improvements in industrialization, socioeconomic conditions, and hygiene, infection rates are lower. The incidence of H. pylori infection, determined indirectly, also suggests a rate several times higher than that in developed countries. Marked differences in H. pylori seroprevalence have been observed between various ethnic and racial groups. Although the mode of transmission of H. pylori remains uncertain, evidence suggests person-to-person transmission occurs.