Detection of helicobacter pylori by urea breathe test in a Nigerian population with upper gastrointestinal symptoms

Background: Helicobacter Pylori, a class one carcinogen is common globally with about 50% of the world’s population affected. It causes severe symptoms and complications including peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer in infected persons. This study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori as well as the clinical profile of patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms seen at the Rivers State University Teaching hospital.

Methodology: One hundred consecutive patients with upper GI symptoms undergoing Urea Breath test who fulfilled the inclusion criteria constituted the study population. The data was analyzed using IBM-SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0.   Results were presented as means ± standard deviation and percentages/number for quantitative and qualitative variables respectively, while Categorical variables were compared with Pearson’s Chi-square.

Result: Of the one hundred patients studied, 35 (35%) were males and 65 (65%) were females with a mean age of 49.56 ±14. 68. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was 33% affecting more females than males. The most common symptoms in the patients at presentation were heartburn (51%), epigastric pain (47%) and dyspepsia (35%). There was an insignificant positive correlation between the detection of Helicobacter pylori and a prior exposure to proton pump inhibitors.

Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. This buttresses the need for testing and treatment among Nigerians who present with such symptoms.