Characteristics of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Libyan Healthy Peoples in Two Teaching Hospitals in Benghazi

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is common in Libyan patients with chronic dyspeptic symptos. In healthy peoples, however, the picture is not well known. This study try to find answers on the prevalence rate in healthy individuals as well as the influence of age, gender, marital status, occupation, socioeconomic status, smoking and living condition is ascertained.
Six hundred and sixty two (662) subjects aged between 1-83 years were screened for serum anti- H. pylori IgG using a locally validated quantitative commercial EIA test system.
Seropositivity for (HP) was found in 71.4 % of all the recruited individuals. HP infection was acquired as early as one year of age and maintained through the whole individual life if kept untreated.
More than half (53.3 %) of children aged 1-12 years and most of middle age and elderly subjects (84.6 %) were seropositive. Multiple regression analysis revealed associations between HP seropositivity and marital status, education level, socioeconomic status, occupation, infrequent medication, and living conditions.
These data suggest that in a general population sample, living with a partner, low socioeconomic status, low education degree and poor living conditions associated with increased risk of H. pylori infection.