Newly arrived refugee children with Helicobacter pylori are thinner than their non-infected counterparts

Abstract

The hypothesis of this study was that those refugee children with Helicobacter pylori are thinner than their non-infected counterparts. This cross-sectional study investigated the height and weight of newly arrived refugee children up to age 19 years, who were screened for H. pylori using a stool antigen test at the Migrant Health Service in Adelaide between August 2010 and October 2013. Of 460 children, 21% were infected with H. pylori. After adjusting for vitamin B12 and iron levels, ethnicity, age and sex, the odds of being thin in the 10- to 19-year-old age group was 4.28-fold higher (95% CI 1.48-12.4) if they were H. pylori positive compared with those who were H. pylori negative. The difference between the two groups is statistically significant (P=0.01). Screening and treatment for H. pylori in the general population in developed countries is not recommended unless there are symptoms such as dyspepsia or risk of peptic ulcer, duodenal ulcer or gastric cancer. Given the findings of this study, a recommendation could be made that newly arrived refugee children who are thin should be tested for H. pylori. Thinness in children may influence their cognitive ability, school performance, physical endurance and hence their ability to successfully settle into their new country.

Epidemiology ofHelicobacter pyloriin Australia: a scoping review

“…Patients with non-GI related conditions, for example coronary heart disease ( Coles et al, 2003 ), diabetes ( Schimke et al, 2009 ), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) ( Ho et al, 2001 ), multiple sclerosis ( Pedrini et al, 2015 ) and HIV/AIDS ( Edwards et al, 1991 ) were also commonly investigated. Specific cultural groups studied included both urban and rural Aboriginal populations (8.0% of the included publications) ( Windsor et al, 2005 ; Dwyer et al, 1988b ; Pringle et al, 2015 ; Mollison et al, 1994 ; McDonald et al, 2004 ; Ritchie et al, 2009 ), newly arrived migrants (10.6% of included studies) ( Dwyer et al, 1988a ; Gibney et al, 2009 ; Chaves et al, 2009 ; Cherian et al, 2008 ; Mutch et al, 2012 ; Johnston, Smith & Roydhouse, 2012 ; Abdul Rahim et al, 2017 ; Benson, Rahim & Agrawal, 2017 ), ethnic groups such as members of the Chinese population of Melbourne (2.6% of included studies) ( Chow et al, 1995 ; Lin et al, 1991 ), and institutionalised populations (2.6% of included studies) ( Lambert et al, 1995 ; Wallace, Webb & Schluter, 2002 ). Several studies investigated groups of health professionals, hypothesised to be at greater risk of contracting H. pylori , including dentists ( Lin et al, 1998b ) gastroenterologists ( Lin et al, 1994 ) and nurses ( Robertson, Cade & Clancy, 1999 ).…”

“…Several studies investigated groups of health professionals, hypothesised to be at greater risk of contracting H. pylori , including dentists ( Lin et al, 1998b ) gastroenterologists ( Lin et al, 1994 ) and nurses ( Robertson, Cade & Clancy, 1999 ). Fourteen of the included papers (19%) estimated H. pylori prevalence in children ( Windsor et al, 2005 ; Moujaber et al, 2008 ; Dwyer et al, 1988a ; Dwyer et al, 1988b ; Mitchell et al, 1993a ; Hardikar et al, 1996 ; Hardikar et al, 1991 ; Mitchell et al, 1993b ; Hardikar & Grimwood, 1995 ; Ho et al, 2001 ; Ritchie et al, 2009 ; Cherian et al, 2008 ; Mutch et al, 2012 ; Benson, Rahim & Agrawal, 2017 ).…”

Prevalence and Associated Symptoms ofHelicobacter pyloriInfection among Schoolchildren in Kassala State, East of Sudan

“…Additionally, other authors have noted that a positive association of H. pylori infection with BMI was only seen in those aged 15+ years [ 4 ]. Recently, Benson et al determined that the odds of being thin in the 10- to 19-year-old age group were 4.28-fold higher (95% CI 1.48–12.4) if they were H. pylori positive compared with those who were H. pylori negative [ 28 ]. In contrary, H. pylori infection was not associated with overweight/obesity observed from the retrospective study in this Chinese population [ 29 ].…”

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

“…Besides, in one cross‐sectional study for H. pylori infection diagnosis, the exact same SAT (Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech, China) was used . One study using an SAT found it to be a cost‐effective and rapid method for initial screening of H. pylori infection …”

“…30 One study using an SAT found it to be a costeffective and rapid method for initial screening of H. pylori infection. 31 Moon et al analyzed the relationship between the serum pepsinogen (PG) level and SAT in 318 H. pylori-seropositive patients.…”