The association between Helicobacter pylori infection and height in children from an urban community in north-east Brazil

Abstract

Background: An association between Helicobacter pylori infection and short stature in children has been described recently.

Aim: To describe differences in stature between H. pylori-infected and non-infected children in a low-income community in north-east Brazil.

Methods: H. pylori status was evaluated by 13C-urea-breath test; centile values for weight and height were calculated for each child.

Results: The prevalence of H. pyloni was 55.8% (197/353) and increased with age. Of 197 H. pylori-positive children, 62% were below the 25th centile for height compared with 48% of H. pylori-negative children (75/156) [AOR (adjusted odds ratio) 1.61, 95% CI 1.04-2.49, p=0.03] after adjustment for variables with p < 0.25 in univariate analysis (gender, number of residents, of children per household and of persons per bed). These results were significant only when older children were included. Thus, in children aged 8-14 years, 80% (89/111) of H. pylori-positive were <25th centile for height compared with 63% (35/56) of H. pylori-negative children (p=0.01). Compared with children with a height >25th centile, the AOR for H. pylori infection increased from 2.42 in the crude analysis to 6.62 after adjustment (p=0.006).

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