Purpose: The mode of Helicobacter pylori spread is not well defined. Urea breath test (UBT) is an accurate and noninvasive method for H pylori detection. This study evaluates the role of intrafamilial spread of H pylori using UBT.
Methods: The family members of 16 Hpylori-positive and 16 negative (control) children confirmed by histology and rapid urease test were investigated with UBT. A 58% change was considered positive.
Results: A total of 139 persons (72 in the positive group; 67 in the control group) were studied. Fifty-eight (81%, 58 of 72) and 13 (19%, 13 of 67) were found to be positive in the H pylori-positive and control groups, respectively (P < .01). Among children from 19 positive mothers, the positive rate was 60% (25 of 42), whereas among children of negative mothers, the positive rate was 16% (4 of 25; P < .01). The positive rate among children of positive fathers was 66% (23 of 35), whereas that among children of negative fathers was 30% (7 of 23; P < .01). When both parents were H pylori-positive, the children's positive rate was 83% (19 of 23); when both parents were negative, the children's positive rate was 0% (0 of 9; P < .01).
Conclusions: There is strong evidence of intrafamilial spread of H pylori. The positivity of parents with H pylori has an important bearing on their children's H pylori status.