Helicobacter pylori in 6-12 year-old healthy primary school students of the 19 educational sectors of Tehran-Iran

This descriptive analytical prospective cross sectional study was performed with the aim to determine Helicobacter pylori infection in primary school children in the 19 educational sectors of Tehran. Mean age was 9.17±1.53 years and multistage sampling was performed. Helicobacter pylori antibody was estimated in 1665 subjects (945 girls, 57%; 720 boys, 43%). 1236 (74%) were uninfected and 429 (26%) were seropositive. The infected girls were 220 (23%) and of boys were 209 (29%): indicating that the difference was significant between the sexes. The least (18%) and the highest (43%) Helicobacter pylori infection rate was in the 7-year and the 12 year age groups, respectively. The difference was significant between the age groups (p = 0.000). Based on the geographical regions of Tehran, Helicobacter pylori infection was highest (33%) in South Tehran and lowest (21%) in North Tehran, which was statistically different (p = 0.002).