Background: The discovery of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] by Marshall and Warren revealed that, this organism has been implicated as the main etiological agent in the development of acute and chronic active gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue [MALT] lymphoma in humans. Recent estimates suggest that 50% of the world's population is infected with this gastric bacterium. Dyspepsia is a complex set of symptoms, rather than an indication of a specific disease entity and many causes of dyspepsia exist including Helicobacter pylori infections.
Objective: This study was initiated to determine the association of dyspepsia symptoms and H. pylori infections.
Design: A Case control study was conducted to determine the association of dyspepsia symptoms and H. pylori infections using non-invasive tests [Helicobacter pylori stool antigen and Helicobacter pylori rapid antibody] at Noble Higher Clinic, Addis Ababa. Ethiopia, between April 2009 and June 2009.
Methods: A total of 238 informed and consented adult outpatients [n=119 dyspeptic patients and n=119 asymptomatic controls] were investigated for H. pylori infections by Helicobacter pylori stool antigen and Helicobacter pylori rapid antibody tests.
Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was found in 53% [63/119] dyspeptic patients and 39%[46/119] asymptomatic controls. odds ratio[OR: 1.785:95%, CI, 1.066 to 2.989]. In the asymptomatic controls, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was peak at the age group of 38-45 yrs [61%], followed by 54-61 yrs [60%]. In the dyspeptic patients, the peak prevalence of H. pylori infection was at the age group of 54-61 yrs [75%], followed by 30-37 yrs [72%].
Conclusion: There is a statistically significant difference between dyspeptic and non-dyspeptic participant by HpSA test. This demonstrates that H. pylori infection is associated with dyspepsia in this study, even if the causes of dyspepsia were not assessed by the study. Although, this 53 percent prevalence of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patients seems lower than the previous hospital based studies, further study need to be conducted in the primary health care setup.