Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Related Gastric Pathologies in Moroccan Population

Abstract

Abstract:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonize the gastric mucosa of 50% of the world's population. This infection is closely associated with the development of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Moroccan population and the risk to develop gastric precancerous lesions and gastric cancer. Totally, 298 patients were enrolled, 68 of asymptomatic subjects and 230 of patients with gastric diseases. Histological examination was effected to diagnostic gastric lesions and to detect H. pylori. ELISA was used to determine H. pylori status of patients. The prevalence of H. pylori within asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects was observed higher. A significant relationship was detected between H. pylori infection and the risk of gastric diseases (p-value < 0.0001). A meaningful association between chronic gastritis increasing and age was observed (p-value = 0.03). The risk to develop gastric cancer among infected patients was observed elevated with rate of 9%. Our results showed a high prevalence of H. pylori in both asymptomatic and gastric diseases patients. We noticed that chronic gastric infection increases with age. We remarked also that the risk to develop gastric cancer among infected patients was elevated in our population.

Assessment of histology's performance compared with PCR in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

“…In our series, the prevalence of H. pylori in symptomatic adults was 75.3 and 82.5% by histological examination and PCR, respectively. This prevalence is consistent with the general prevalence in Africa which is 70% and the prevalence found in Morocco which was 92.6% in asymptomatic people and 89.6% in people suffering from gastric disorders [ 1 , 15 ] and in Tunisia where the prevalence was 87.7% in symptomatic patients in 2005 and 63.7% in 2022 in a multicenter Tunisian study [ 16 ]. Our study involved patients who fulfilled the indications for H. pylori testing set out in the Maastricht VI consensus [ 2 ].…”

Worldwide Prevalence and Risk Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children

“…In fact, the authors of this metaanalysis concluded that Nigeria has the highest H. pylori prevalence worldwide, at 87.7%. In Southern Africa, Walker www.videleaf.com et al [67] reported an overall prevalence of 75%, whereas, in Northern Africa, Bounder et al [68] found a prevalence of 92.6% in asymptomatic Moroccans and 89.6% in patients complaining of gastric symptoms regardless of age. Another study performed in Egypt revealed a lower prevalence in the general population of only 54.4% [69].…”

“…In terms of diagnostic methods, most of the reported studies in Africa used serology testing, which might not be the most accurate mirror of the real prevalence in this population [78]. For example, most of the studies in Libia relied on serological tests for diagnosing H. pylori infection [68][69][70]. Nevertheless, in areas like Algeria, Tunisia, West, East, or Central Africa, studies also reported the use of more accurate methods such as a urea breath test, stool antigen, rapid urease test, or histological exam based on upper digestive endoscopy collected gastric biopsies and their combination [79][80][81].…”

“…• household population, low social class, source of drinking water, household waste disposal used, and type of convenience [75] • in adults, farming profession in Ghana [77] • cigarette smokers in the household-protective factor against H. pylori infection [76] • vegetables such as Ocimum gratissimum, Carica papaya, and Allium-protective effect against H. pylori infection [27,46] • schoolchildren from Africa most commonly complain of nausea (25.5%) and epigastric pain (24.5%) [62] • in Libia-serological tests most used for diagnosing H. pylori infection [68,69,70] • Algeria, Tunisia, West, East or Central Africa-use of more accurate methods [79,80,81]…”