Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Symptoms  among Outpatients at Taiz City- Yemen

Habib Thabet; Yakout Al-Hasiney; Ngwa Al-Fakhri; Samar AL-Asadi; Miada AL-Osaidy; Wafa Al-Homidy

Association of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Symptoms among Outpatients at Taiz City- Yemen

Authors

Habib Thabet Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Ibb University, Ibb, Yemen Department of Therapeutic Nutrition Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Al-Saeed University, Taiz, Yemen
Yakout Al-Hasiney
Ngwa Al-Fakhri
Samar AL-Asadi
Miada AL-Osaidy
Wafa Al-Homidy Department of Medical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz, Yemen

Keywords:

Helicobacter pylori, Taiz city, gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory symptoms

Abstract

Background: About one-half of the world population has been affected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and it is very prevalent in developing countries. The expanded risk of infection due to precarious hygiene standards, crowded households and incomplete sanitation associated with this portion of the world. H. pylori is known as gram-negative, spiral shaped, flagellated organism uniquely adjust to colonize the gastric mucous layer.

Objective: To determine the relation between H. pylori infection in patients with various of gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms in Taiz city, Yemen, based on stool and serological diagnostic tests.

Methods: In the present study, a cross-sectional study for a total of 178 patient’s antigen and antibody sample diagnosis for H. pylori were conducted. One hundred thirty-eight outpatients are from hospitals and clinic centers with different gastrointestinal (GI) and respiratory (R) symptoms, and 40 individuals as control (patients without symptoms). The samples were collected during the period of September 2017 to May 2018. Two samples were used to detect H. pylori; the blood sample to detect the presence antibodies (Ab) and stool sample to detect antigens (Ag) of H. pylori. The data analysis was conducted by the SPSS version 24.0.

Results: The current study results showed a statistically significant distribution of H. Pylori infection among the outpatients according to demographic, clinical data, symptoms and diagnostic method. Out of 178 outpatients 65 (37%) male and 113 (63%) females, age ranging from 9 to 63 years. The accompanying symptoms were associated with Gl and respiratory symptoms and infection. The Ag test identified 42 positive cases out of 69 (60.9%; p<0.05) while the Ab test detected 33 positive cases out of 69 (47.8%; p<0.05) patients. Similarly, for respiratory symptoms, the Ag test identified 8 positive cases out of 9 (88.9%; p<0.05), and the Ab test detected 6 positive cases out of 9 (66.7%; p<0.05). The data in this study was analyzed by a Chi-square analysis with a significant p-value of < 0.05.

Conclusions: This study highlights a significant association and prevalence of H. pylori infection among outpatients with gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms. The antigen test was found to be a more effective diagnostic method for detecting current infection compared to the serum antibody test. Early diagnosis using appropriate methods could improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of associated diseases.