Abstract:
Abstract. The widespread Helicobacter pylori infection is a substantial global health
problem affecting approximately 50% of the worldwide population, with 50%
infection rates in developed countries and 80% in developing countries, mainly
concentrating in resource-limited settings. The mode of transmission is through the
faecal-oral route, contamination of food and water, where inadequate sanitation
practices, low socioeconomic status and overcrowdedness seem to relate to the
high prevalence of H. pylori infections. This study sought to serologically determine
the prevalence of H. pylori and the disease-associated burden in patients accessing
care in a Tertiary Hospital. This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted
at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, North-Central Nigeria, for four months
(September to December 2022). There, 551 blood specimens were collected from
the patients into plain tubes and spun to obtain serum for the serological qualitative
analysis. Out of the 551 screened specimens for H. pylori, 79% (n=437) were 58.4%
reactive female and 41.6% male. Ages 15-49 had 62%, 50-70 yrs had 26.5%, and less
than 14 yrs had 11.4% respectively. Furthermore, 64.3% of female patients
presented with burning pains, nausea/vomiting, and trouble breathing.
In comparison, 35.5% of the male counterparts presented symptoms of dyspepsia,
and 32.1% had either taken one of the Nonsteroidal-inflammatory drugs. 86.7% of
the suspected patients were hand washed after using the toilet, 83.3% had a loss of
appetite, 55.4% reported alcohol intake and 35.9% smoked instead. 47.7% ate from
mama-put, 30.1% from street-vended foods and 22.2% from classified restaurants,
while 94.7% got their drinking water from sachet, bottled, borehole or tap, and well
water, respectively.
Serum antibody detection of H. pylori infection was higher in female than male
patients accessing care at the Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos. This
revealed that gender could be considered a potential risk factor. Thus, early risk
identification factors, such as other transmission routes, are urgently needed in
defining clinical and epidemiological characteristics to facilitate appropriate
supportive care and prompt treatment.
