Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori by the breath test in Paraguay

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative bacillus that colonizes the stomach and may cause chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. It is also a risk factor for gastric cancer and may be associated with MALT lymphoma. Its prevalence is estimated to range from 30% to 80% of the adult population. Diagnosis may be performed by breath testing, serology, stool antigen detection or upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy. At the time of the study, no investigations using the Heliprobe system had been conducted in Paraguay. This equipment uses a small orally administered dose of carbon-14. Eighty patients of both sexes were studied, including 50 women and 30 men. The population consisted of 75 adults and 5 children. Mean age was 34 years among adults and 10 years among children. Fifty patients had positive results, 26 had negative results and 4 had borderline or weakly positive results. When positive and borderline results were combined, the reported prevalence was 67.50%. The breath test was considered a non-invasive, rapid and effective method for diagnosing H. pylori infection and monitoring eradication after treatment.