Correlation between helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency in children

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and Iron deficiency (ID) in children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Baoding Children's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019. A total of one thousand children who came to our hospital for physical examination and met the inclusion criteria were continuously included in this study. All the children were given questionnaires (personal and family social and economic status), a stool Hp antigen test and/or a 13C-urea breath test, as well as measurements of hemoglobin (Hb), mean red blood cell volume (MCV), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI), and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). Children who tested positive for Hp were divided into the Hp group and children who tested negative for Hp were divided into the control group. ID or IDA was diagnosed based on the child's blood test results.

Results: A total of 902 children met the inclusion criteria, including 194 (21.5%) in the Hp group and 708 (78.5%) in the control group. The incidence of ID and IDA in Hp group was higher than that in control group (2=9.112, 2=4.478; All P < 0.05); The levels of MCV, SI, SF and Hb in Hp group were lower than those in control group (t=5.288; T = 3.864; T = 6.751; T =11.841, all P < 0.05), TIBC level was higher than that of control group (T =7.630, P < 0.05); The levels of MCHC and RDW in THE Hp group were not statistically significant compared with the control group. Logistic regression showed that Hp infection was not a combined risk factor for ID. Older age, higher educational background of the mother, living in the city, and higher family income were the combined protective factors to prevent the occurrence of ID in children.

Conclusion: Hp infection is not a combined risk factor for the development of ID in children. The influence of family social and economic factors should be taken into consideration when analyzing the correlation between Hp infection and ID.