Relation between infection with Helicobacter pylori and living conditions in childhood: evidence for person to person transmission in early life
BMJ 1994; 308 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.308.6931.750 (Published 19 March 1994) Cite this as: BMJ 1994;308:750
- P M Webb,
- T Knight,
- S Greaves,
- A Wilson,
- D G Newell,
- J Elder,
- D Forman
- Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Gibson Building, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford OX2 6HE
- Department of Surgery, Postgraduate Medicine, University of Keele, Stoke on Trent Central Veterinary Laboratories, New Haw, Weybridge KT15 4 NB
- Correspondence to: Ms Webb.
- Accepted 12 November 1993
Abstract
Abstract Objectives : To relate the prevalence of infection with Helicobacter pylori in adults to their living conditions in childhood to indentify risk factors for infection.
Design : Prevalence study of IgG antibodies to H pylori (>10 μg IgG/ml, determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)) and reported living conditions and other socioeconomic factors in childhood.
Setting : Three factories in Stoke on Trent.
Subjects : 471 male volunteers aged 18 to 65 years.
Main outcome measures : Seroprevalence and variables in childhood.
Results : Seroprevalence of H pylori increased with age (22/74 (29.7%) at <30 years v 29/46 (63%) at 55-65 years; P<0.001 for trend) and was related to manual occupation (14/65 (21.5%) for non-manual v 162/406 (39.9%) for manual; P=0.003). After data were adjusted for age and occupation subjects from large families, whose childhood homes were crowded or who regularly shared a bed in childhood, were significantly more likely to be seropositive (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 2.15 (1.41 to 3.30) for crowding and 2.13 (1.38 to 3.30) for sharing a bed), but there was no relation with possession of a bathroom, inside toilet, refrigerator, or household pets in childhood.
Conclusions : Close person to person contact in childhood is an important determinant of seroprevalence of H pylori in adulthood, suggesting that the infection is transmitted directly from one person to another and may be commonly acquired in early life.
Footnotes
- Accepted 12 November 1993