Background:Acquisition of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) occurs mainly in childhood. However, little is known about the mode of transmission. In such developing countries as Turkey, where the hygienic situation facilitates the transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV), infection with HAV is mainly transmitted via the enteral route. Therefore, it seemed advisable to evaluate the role of fecal-oral transmission in the spread of H. pylori.Material/Methods:Blood samples taken from healthy children (n= 90) 2-16 years old were studied for anti-H. pylori and anti-hepatitis A antibodies by enzyme immunoassay.Results:Of the 90 children, 33.3% were seropositive for both H. pylori and HAV, 33.3% were seronegative for both, 8.9 % were seropositive for H. pylori only, and 24.4% were seropositive for HAV only. The percentage of seropositive children increased with age for H. pylori and HAV. There was no significant relationship in seroprevalence between H. pylori and HAV when analyzed by logistic regression analysis (p=0.178).Conclusions:This study suggests that the seropositivity rates of H. pylori and HAV increase with age, while the fecal-oral route may not be an important mode of transmission for H. pylori in children living in western Anatolia, in the Manisa region.

Keywords: Helicobacter Infections - transmission