H pylori may be transmitted from parents to children

Children whose parents are infected with Helicobacter pylori are more likely to become infected than other children. The route of transmission of H pylori is still unknown, and most studies have been conducted in selected series of patients rather than the general population. Dominici et al (p 537) studied families from a small Italian town and found a significantly higher risk of H pylori infection among children with both parents infected than children with only one or no parents infected. Children of farmers or manual workers also had twice the risk of children of "white collar" workers. The study confirms the importance of intrafamilial contact and social status in spreading H pylori infection.

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Relevant Article

Familial clustering of Helicobacter pylori infection: population based study • Commentary: Helicobacter pylorithe story so far

Patrizia Dominici, Stefano Bellentani, Anna Rita Di Biase, Gioconda Saccoccio, Aurelia Le Rose, Flora Masutti, Laura Viola, Fiorella Balli, Claudio Tiribelli, Roberto Grilli, Michele Fusillo, Enzo Grossi, and Mike Thomson
BMJ 1999 319: 537-541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]