Nursing Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Nursing, including details on health care, hospital staff, professional care.

History of breastfeeding and Helicobacter pylori infection in children: results of a community-based study from northeastern Brazil.

Rodrigues MN, Queiroz DM, Braga AB, Rocha AM, Eulailo EC, Braga LL

Clinical Research Unity, University Hospital Walter Cantideo, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, Av. José Bastos 3390, sala 90, 60436-170 Porangabussu, Fortaleza Ce, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of breastfeeding and the infection status of the mother in the acquisition of Helicobacter pylori infection in a poor urban community in northeastern Brazil. Helicobacter pylori status was evaluated by 13C-urea breath test in individuals under the age of 14 years and by ELISA in the mothers. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 55.8% (197/353) in the children and it increased with age (P<0.0001). Of the children in whom breastfeeding status was known, 93.2% (316/339) were breastfed. The H. pylori prevalence did not differ between breastfed and never breastfed children (55% vs. 52%) even when children were breastfed for >6 months. The prevalence of infection was much higher in children whose mothers were H. pylori infected than in children whose mothers were not infected, resulting in a crude odds ratio (OR) of 3.11 (95% CI 1.57-6.19) and 2.40 after adjustment for potential confounders (95% CI 1.12-5.15). This study suggests that breastfeeding does not protect against acquisition of H. pylori in northeastern Brazil; conversely, an infected mother may have an important role in transmission of the disease to the child.

Published 13 March 2006 in Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 100(5): 470-5.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Nursing Research Today. All Rights Reserved.