PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI GASTRITIS IN DYSPEPTIC PATIENTS IN A LOW RESOURCE SETTING

ABSTRACT
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the common cause of chronic gastritis.More than half of the
world’s population is infected withH.pylori. Chronic gastritis can lead to peptic ulcer and in advanced stages with an
increased risk of developing gastric adenocarcinoma. In developing countries many UGI diseases are treated empirically
due to lack of access to upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy services.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of H. pylori in patients presenting with dyspepsia, and the mean time from
onset of symptoms to performing an endoscopy examination.
Methods:A cross sectional descriptive study conducted from 20 August 2014 to 20 January 2015. Adult patients with
dyspepsia who were referred for UGI endoscopy were recruited consecutively. Questionnaires were used to collect
data which were analyzed using SPSS version10 software . Results: In total, 222 participants’ data were analyzed. The
F:M ratio was 1:1.4, mean age 43 years (SD = 16). The prevalence of H. pylori gastritis was 36%. The minimum time
to endoscopy was 5 weeks, maximum 1,048 weeks and the mean time 55 weeks.
Conclusion: The burden of H. pylori infection in patients with dyspepsia was high. Patients had prior empirical antibiotic
therapy. Access to endoscopic services is limited.
Keywords: H. pylori, Gastritis, Endoscopy