ABSTRACT

Objective: To detect the incidence of Helicobacter pylori (H Pylori) infection in children and adults and to measure the effectiveness of three non invasive, minimally invasive and invasive diagnostic modalities at Mayo hospital, Lahore.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study

Place and duration: East Medical Ward, Pediatric Medical ward Unit 2, Pathology Department, Mayo hospital Lahore from November 2020 to October 2021.

Methodology: All the cases with severe recurrent or persistent symptoms of gastritis and dyspepsia referred to adult and pediatric medical outdoor and medical wards were included in the study. Specific sociodemographic details were noted. Blood and stool samples were collected and directed to Pathology department of the hospital for serum H Pylori antibody and H Pylori stool antigen tests respectively. Endoscopic guided gastric biopsy for histopathological presence of H Pylori is done in all the patients with strong recurrent or persistent clinical symptoms not responding to treatment. Results of all these tests were noted. All the variables were analyzed with respect to their percentages and proportions.

Results: Among 759 patients with symptoms of gastritis included in our study, 522 (68.7%) were found to have Helicobacter pylori infection. The incidence was more common in adults (mean age 42.5 years). Males were infected more than females. Among pediatric population, found more frequently in school going 6 to 10 years age group. H pylori stool antigen test was more reliable as compared to serum antibody test. Histopathology remained the gold standard test.

Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori infection is quite prevalent in our community. However, further researches on large scale should be conducted to find out the exact prevalence of H pylori in the whole country. The diagnostic accuracy of indirect non invasive H Pylori stool antigen test is far better than minimally invasive serology test and can be used effectively in children and adults where urea breath technique cannot be done accurately and to avoid the direct invasive endoscopic guided histopathological examination.