Inverse relationship between gastric colonization of Helicobacter pylori and diarrheal illnesses in children:: Results of a population-based cross-sectional study

It has been suggested that carriage of Helicobacter pylori may protect against infections by exogenous intestinal pathogens. An analysis was done of all children who were screened for school fitness during 1996-1998 in Ulm, Germany, to compare rates of diarrheal illnesses in Ii. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative children. Of 2477 5-8-year-old children studied, 304 (12.3%) were H. pylori-positive by carbon 13-labeled urea breath test. For Ii. pylori-positive children, diarrhea within the prior 3 months was less often reported than for Il. pylori-negative children (54.3% vs. 76.1%; P < .001, adjusted for nationality). Compared with H. pylori-negative children, the odds ratio (OR) for the occurrence of diarrhea within the prior 3 months was 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.49) for N. pylori-positive children; after adjustment for covariates, the OR was 0.56 (95% CI, 0.42-0.76). These data support the hypothesis that Ii. pylori colonization may protect against diarrheagenic gastrointestinal infections.