This study was carried out in 2009 on healthy children (1-15 years) of the Golestan province. Serum immunoglobulin G (Ig G) antibody against HP was tested in these children and positive samples were tested for anti-cytotoxin-associated antigen A (anti-CagA) antibody. To assess the relationship between HP infection and the risk of gastric cancer, the Golestan province was divided into high- and low-risk areas based on the incidence rate of gastric cancer. The chi-squared test was used to assess the relationship between variables.
Totally, 194 subjects were recruited. The prevalence of HP infection in our area was 50.5%. The prevalence of HP infection was significantly higher in the high-risk than in the low-risk area for stomach cancer (p = 0.004). The seropositivities of HP (p = 0.03) and CagA (p = 0.04) were significantly lower in children <5 years than in others.
Our results showed a high prevalence of HP infection in children of the Golestan province of Iran. We also found a significant positive relationship between childhood HP infection and the risk of gastric cancer. Hence, childhood HP infection may be considered a possible determinant of gastric cancer in this high-risk area. Implementation of preventive programmes may help to reduce the burden of childhood HP infection and, consequently, gastric cancer in this area.