Determinants of Ethnic or Geographical Differences in Infectivity and Transmissibility of Helicobacter pylori

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is variable in different countries. There are two distinct patterns of H pylori prevalence with respect to age depending on the geographical region studied. The first pattern is widespread infection early in childhood with elevated prevalence rates of...

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Main Author: Carlo A Fallone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1999-01-01
Series:Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1999/132197
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author Carlo A Fallone
author_facet Carlo A Fallone
author_sort Carlo A Fallone
collection DOAJ
description The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is variable in different countries. There are two distinct patterns of H pylori prevalence with respect to age depending on the geographical region studied. The first pattern is widespread infection early in childhood with elevated prevalence rates of close to 80% throughout adulthood, and the second is increasing prevalence with age. This variability in pattern suggests a difference in infectivity or transmissibility of H pylori infection. Potential determinants of these differences are reviewed including environmental, bacterial and host factors. The most important determinant is likely socioeconomic class, which affects living conditions and sanitation, thus altering exposure to the bacterium. Host factors also play a role, perhaps via host receptors for H pylori. Bacterial factors may also contribute, although compelling evidence is lacking.
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institution Kabale University
issn 0835-7900
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spelling doaj-art-489176fb05c543abb71e5101f3ad541a2025-02-03T01:21:01ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Gastroenterology0835-79001999-01-0113325125510.1155/1999/132197Determinants of Ethnic or Geographical Differences in Infectivity and Transmissibility of Helicobacter pyloriCarlo A Fallone0McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaThe prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is variable in different countries. There are two distinct patterns of H pylori prevalence with respect to age depending on the geographical region studied. The first pattern is widespread infection early in childhood with elevated prevalence rates of close to 80% throughout adulthood, and the second is increasing prevalence with age. This variability in pattern suggests a difference in infectivity or transmissibility of H pylori infection. Potential determinants of these differences are reviewed including environmental, bacterial and host factors. The most important determinant is likely socioeconomic class, which affects living conditions and sanitation, thus altering exposure to the bacterium. Host factors also play a role, perhaps via host receptors for H pylori. Bacterial factors may also contribute, although compelling evidence is lacking.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1999/132197
spellingShingle Carlo A Fallone
Determinants of Ethnic or Geographical Differences in Infectivity and Transmissibility of Helicobacter pylori
Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology
title Determinants of Ethnic or Geographical Differences in Infectivity and Transmissibility of Helicobacter pylori
title_full Determinants of Ethnic or Geographical Differences in Infectivity and Transmissibility of Helicobacter pylori
title_fullStr Determinants of Ethnic or Geographical Differences in Infectivity and Transmissibility of Helicobacter pylori
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of Ethnic or Geographical Differences in Infectivity and Transmissibility of Helicobacter pylori
title_short Determinants of Ethnic or Geographical Differences in Infectivity and Transmissibility of Helicobacter pylori
title_sort determinants of ethnic or geographical differences in infectivity and transmissibility of helicobacter pylori
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1999/132197
work_keys_str_mv AT carloafallone determinantsofethnicorgeographicaldifferencesininfectivityandtransmissibilityofhelicobacterpylori