Rate of active Helicobacter pylori infection among symptomatic patients of Pakistan
- Author:
Faisal Rasheed
;
Ayesha Yameen
;
Tanvir Ahmad
;
Rakhshanda Bilal
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
H. pylori, 13C UBT, rate, gender, age
- From:The Malaysian Journal of Pathology
2017;39(1):69-72
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Only few epidemiological studies have examined the rate of active H. pylori infection in the
symptomatic population in Pakistan. This retrospective study presents the laboratory data collected
during the past 13 years (2002 to 2015) from 2315 symptomatic patients referred to the BreathMAT
Lab, Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute, Islamabad for the diagnosis of active
H. pylori infection using the 13C Urea Breath Test. Rate of infection and its association with gender
and age were evaluated. The overall rate of active H. pylori infection was 49.5% and there was
no association of this rate of infection with gender. An increase in rate of infection was observed
with increasing age with significant difference (p < 0.05). The patients that tested negative for this
infection might be having symptoms due to stress and indiscriminate use of non-steroidal antiinflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) in this community. The fact that half of the symptomatic patients
were negative needs to be highlighted and further suggests that symptomatic patients should be
tested by the 13C UBT before prescribing antibiotic treatment for H. pylori eradication. In addition,
there is a need to educate this community about the harmful and side effects of self medication
and overuse of NSAIDs.
- Full text:P020170515583319788589.pdf
