The association between iron deficiency anemia and asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori infection in children

Abstract EN

Background : there are some reports suggesting that H.

pylori causes iron deficiency anemia especially in children without producing any hemorrhagic lesions in the stomach or duodenum.

These data raise the possibility that H pylori infection may contribute to global problem of iron deficiency especially in children Aims : to investigate the association between iron deficiency anemia and active H.

pylori infection in Egyptian children. Methods: A case control study in which 92 iron deficient anemic children and 85 iron replete children as controls were investigated.

The main outcome measure is the presence of active H pylori infection as detected by stool antigen test. Results : iron deficient anemic children showed a statistically significant higher rate of active infection with H pylori compared to controls.

In the anemic group 45(48.9%) children showed active H.

pylori infection, while only 28(32.9%) children from the controls had H pylori infection Conclusion : there is a strong association between iron deficiency anemia and H pylori infection.

Therefore, new initiatives designed to further decrease prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in high-risk groups may need to address the-problem of H.

pylori infection.