Background: This study conducted in Northeastern Brazil, evaluated the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the presence of gastritis in HIV-infected patients.

H. pylori is associated with short stature in older children living in a poor urban community in Brazil.

Factors linked to remain and to gain H. pylori infection in a poor region were increased number of children in the household and the male gender. Also, the acquisition rates were higher than the loss rates, which lead to an increase in the infection prevalence with age.