Advance Search

Prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection in patients with upper GI symptoms: A comparison between normal and abnormal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy findings

Ahmed Mustafa Ahmed
Department of General Surgery -Shaqlawa Teaching Hospital, Erbil, Kurdistan Region-Iraq.
Keywords:
Copyright and Licensing:

Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmed Mustafa Ahmed (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Share:
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Abstract

Background and objective: A staggering of more than half of the global population is affected by Helicobacter pylori infection. The infection is commonly obtained during childhood but may stay asymptomatic with long-term clinical consequences such as gastritis, peptic ulcer illness and stomach cancer. This study carried out to determine the prevalence rate of Helicobacter pylori infection and related variables such as age, gender, educational level, upper GI symptoms and previous infection among patients presenting with gastroduodenal disorders in Erbil city.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 240 patients with gastroduodenal disorders from January to June 2023 were enrolled who underwent endoscopy at Rzgary Teaching Hospital and Hawler Teaching Hospital in Erbil, Iraq. Blood samples and Biopsy were taken from the patients for screening anti-Helicobacter pylori antibodies by rapid immunochromatographic assay and histopathology identification, respectively. The extracted data then analyzed by GraphPad Prism with P value less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: The results showed a high prevalence of H. pylori positivity was 57% in symptomatic patients and higher in those with abnormal findings, 68.8%, compared to normal, 18.2%, P <0.0001. The H. pylori infection showed association with GI abnormalities, especially duodenal ulcers, which were 75% positive; gastro-duodenitis, where the positivity was as high as 62.5%. Lower educational attainment correlated with higher infection rates, thus giving emphasis to health education. Serology provided better sensitivity but possible false positives, therefore requiring confirmation.

Conclusions: It can be concluded the role of H. pylori in upper GI disease and routine testing of symptomatic patients, especially from high-prevalence areas whose symptoms cannot be otherwise explained. Public health methods focusing on hygiene, early detection and proper treatment can diminish the effects that H. pylori partake on gastrointestinal health.

PDF
PDF

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

  1. Elbehiry A, Marzouk E, Aldubaib M, Abalkhail A, Anagreyyah S, Anajirih N, et al. Helicobacter pylori Infection: Current Status and Future Prospects on Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Control Challenges. Antibiotics (Basel). 2023; 12(2):191. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12020191
  2. Ali A, AlHussaini KI. Helicobacter pylori: A Contemporary Perspective on Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies. Microorganisms. 2024; 12(1):222. doi:10.3390/microorganisms12010222
  3. Sharndama HC, Mba IE. Helicobacter pylori: an up-to-date overview on the virulence and pathogenesis mechanisms. Braz J Microbiol. 2022; 53(1):33-50. doi:10.1007/s42770-021-00675-0
  4. Khan ZAW, Ab Ib Swehli H, Hani Al-Battah A, Mahmoud M, John A, Al-Ejji K, et al. Population based treatment strategy of H pylori in Qatar: Through clinical and demographic insights. Arab J Gastroenterol. 2024; 25(4):399-404. doi:10.1016/j.ajg.2024.07.007
  5. Jaroń K, Pietrzak A, Daniluk J, Adrych K, Gąsiorowska A, Skrzydło-Radomańska B, et al. Diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations on Helicobacter pylori infection. Recommendations of the Working Group of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology. Prz Gastroenterol. 2023; 18(3):225-48. doi:10.5114/pg.2023.131998
  6. Madisch A, Andresen V, Enck P, Labenz J, Frieling T, Schemann M. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018; 115(13):222-32. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0222
  7. Serra M, Medeiros AT, Torres MD, Dias I, Santos C, Araújo MFM. Correlation between the symptoms of upper gastrointestinal disease and endoscopy findings: Implications for clinical practice. J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2021; 16(3):395-401. doi:10.1016/j.jtumed.2020.12.020
  8. Kinoshita Y, Ariyoshi R, Fujigaki S, Tanaka K, Morikawa T, Sanuki T. Endoscopic diagnosis of chronic diarrhea. DEN Open. 2022; 2(1):e53. doi:10.1002/deo2.53
  9. Graham DY. History of Helicobacter pylori, duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. World J Gastroenterol. 2014; 20(18):5191-204. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5191
  10. Ahmed S, Belayneh YM. Helicobacter pylori And Duodenal Ulcer: Systematic Review Of Controversies In Causation. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. 2019; 12:441-7. doi:10.2147/ceg.S228203
  11. Okoye OG, Olaomi OO, Nwofor AME, Jibrin P, Batta CS, Yaú AG, et al. Correlation of Clinical, Endoscopic, and Pathological Findings among Suspected Peptic Ulcer Disease Patients in Abuja, Nigeria. Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2021; 2021:9646932. doi:10.1155/2021/9646932
  12. Zhang SL, Lollie TK, Chen Z, Narasimhalu T, Wang HL. Histopathologic diagnosis of gastritis and gastropathy: a narrative review. Dig Med Res. 2022; 6:9. doi:10.21037/dmr-22-42
  13. Al Kirdy F, Rajab M, El-Rifai N. Helicobacter pylori Infection: Clinical, Endoscopic, and Histological Findings in Lebanese Pediatric Patients. Int J Pediatr. 2020; 2020:4648167. doi:10.1155/2020/4648167
  14. Öztekin M, Yılmaz B, Ağagündüz D, Capasso R. Overview of Helicobacter pylori Infection: Clinical Features, Treatment, and Nutritional Aspects. Diseases. 2021; 9(4):66. doi:10.3390/diseases9040066
  15. Sharma PK, Salaria S, Manrai M, Srivastava S, Kumar D, Singh AR. Helicobacter pylori infection in non-ulcer dyspepsia: A cross-sectional study. Med J Armed Forces India. 2022; 78(2):180-4. doi:10.1016/j.mjafi.2020.11.020
  16. Mabroukah K, Yousef H, Zinab E, Masoud E, Khoulah A. Prevalence of H. pylori Infection among Patients with Chronic Gastric Symptoms and The Role of Gastric Biopsy in its Diagnosis and Management. AJMAS. 2023:788-93. doi:10.5281/ZENODO.10342260
  17. Sharma P, Adhikari S, Katila S, Bajracharya A, Bohara N, Pathak S, et al. Helicobacter pylori Infection among Patients Undergoing Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in a Tertiary Care Center. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2024; 62(269):5-8. doi:10.31729/jnma.8393
  18. Aumpan N, Mahachai V, Vilaichone RK. Management of Helicobacter pylori infection. JGH Open. 2023; 7(1):3-15. doi:10.1002/jgh3.12843
  19. Zhang L, Chen X, Ren B, Zhou X, Cheng L. Helicobacter pylori in the Oral Cavity: Current Evidence and Potential Survival Strategies. Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23(21). doi:10.3390/ijms232113646
  20. Moss SF, Shah SC, Tan MC, El-Serag HB. Evolving Concepts in Helicobacter pylori Management. Gastroenterology. 2024; 166(2):267-83. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2023.09.047
  21. Narayanan M, Reddy KM, Marsicano E. Peptic Ulcer Disease and Helicobacter pylori infection. Mo Med. 2018; 115(3):219-24.
  22. Weng CY, Xu JL, Sun SP, Wang KJ, Lv B. Helicobacter pylori eradication: Exploring its impacts on the gastric mucosa. World J Gastroenterol. 2021; 27(31):5152-70. doi:10.3748/wjg.v27.i31.5152
  23. Kouroumalis E, Tsomidis I, Voumvouraki A. Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer: a critical approach to who really needs eradication. Explor Dig Dis. 2024; 3(2):107-42. doi:10.37349/edd.2024.00043
  24. Hunt RH, Xiao SD, Megraud F, Leon-Barua R, Bazzoli F, van der Merwe S, et al. Helicobacter pylori in developing countries. World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guideline. J Gastrointestin Liver Dis. 2011; 20(3):299-304. PMID: 21961099
  25. Almashhadany DA, Mayas SM, Mohammed HI, Hassan AA, Khan IUH. Population- and Gender-Based Investigation for Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Dhamar, Yemen. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023; 2023:3800810. doi:10.1155/2023/3800810
  26. Alaridah N, R MJ, R FJ, AlRefaei A, Shewaikani N, Nassr H, et al. Attitudes and Practices Regarding Helicobacter Pylori Infection Among the Public in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Cureus. 2024; 16(2):e55018. doi: 10.7759/cureus.55018
  27. Elshair M, Ugai T, Oze I, Kasugai Y, Koyanagi YN, Hara K, et al. Impact of socioeconomic status and sibling number on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection: a cross-sectional study in a Japanese population. Nagoya J Med Sci. 2022; 84(2):374-87. doi:10.18999/nagjms.84.2.374
  28. Trenti T, Pecoraro V, Pirotti T, Plebani M. IgM anti-SARS-CoV-2-specific determination: useful or confusing? Big Data analysis of a real-life scenario. Intern Emerg Med. 2021;16(8):2327-2330. doi:10.1007/s11739-021-02747-3
  29. Menezes-Júnior LAAd, Batista AP, Lourenção LG, Rocha AMS, Lage NN, Barbosa KF, et al. Rapid Serological Test for COVID-19, One-Step-COVID-2019: Accuracy and Implications for Pandemic Control. COVID. 2024; 4(8):1315-23. doi:10.3390/covid4080093
  30. Serin A, Tankurt E, Şarkış C, Simsek I. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers - a 10-year, single-centre experience. Prz Gastroenterol. 2015; 10(3):160-3. doi:10.5114/pg.2015.49685
  31. Smith S, Fowora M, Pellicano R. Infections with Helicobacter pylori and challenges encountered in Africa. World J Gastroenterol. 2019; 25(25):3183-95. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i25.3183
  32. Alkhaldi NK, Alghamdi WK, Alharbi MH, Almutairi AS, Alghamdi FT. The Association Between Oral Helicobacter pylori and Gastric Complications: A Comprehensive Review. Cureus. 2022; 14(5):e24703. doi:10.7759/cureus.24703
  33. Hafiz TA, D'Sa JL, Zamzam S, Visbal Dionaldo ML, Aldawood E, Madkhali N, et al. The Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention on Helicobacter pylori for University Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2023; 16:1979-88. doi:10.2147/jmdh.S419630
  34. Che TH, Nguyen TC, Vu VNT, Nguyen HT, Hoang DTP, Ngo XM, et al. Factors Associated With Helicobacter Pylori Infection Among School-Aged Children From a High Prevalence Area in Vietnam. Int J Public Health. 2023; 68:1605908. doi:10.3389/ijph.2023.1605908
How to Cite
Mustafa Ahmed, A. . (2025). Prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection in patients with upper GI symptoms: A comparison between normal and abnormal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy findings. Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (Zanco J Med Sci), 29(3), 600–609. https://doi.org/10.15218/zjms.2025.065

Send mail to Author

Send Cancel