Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an important global public health concern. It infects approximately one half of the world’s population. Considering the broad spectrum of available H. pylori diagnostic methods and since a reliable diagnosis is mandatory both before and after eradication therapy; thus it is crucial to study the different methods to be able to select the highly accurate laboratory tests that could be used to efficiently diagnose H. pylori infection in clinical practice. In this descriptive-cross sectional study we aimed to evaluate some non-invasive techniques for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection in children and their mothers. Forty children and their 21 mothers who had gastrointestinal symptoms were included. Stool, serum and saliva samples were collected from each enrolled child and mother to detect H. pylori antigens (Ags) in stool using chromatographic immunoassay and IgG antibodies (Abs) in serum and saliva by enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software package version. Thirty (75%) children were positive for stool Ags, 10 (25%) were positive for serum Abs and only 5.4% were positive for saliva Abs. H. pylori stool Ag test was the most reliable test in all studied individuals and testing H. pylori IgG Abs in serum was more useful in adults than in children.

Key words: Helicobacter pylori, H. pylori stool antigen, H. pylori antibodies, chromatographic immunoassay, ELISA.