OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and its association with intestinal parasitoses in children from indigenous communities of the Xingu Indian Reservation, in Brazil. METHODS: A total of 245 Native Brazilian children between 2 and 9 years of age, from six villages of the Xingu River region, a tributary of the Amazon River, were assessed. H. pylori was detected using the 13C-urea breath test. Breath samples were collected at baseline and 30 minutes after ingestion of 50 mg of 13C-urea diluted with 100 mL of water flavored with passion fruit juice and sweetener. Stool samples were collected for the stool ova and parasites exam for 202/245 (82.4%) children. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H. pylori was 73.5%. A significant association of H. pylori with increased age was observed among the different villages and ethnic groups. Positive results for the presence of parasites - 97.5% (198/202) - from the stool samples collected showed no association with H. pylori. Giardia showed an association with H. pylori in the multivariate analysis. Risk factors for H. pylori infection were observed in Kisêjê and Kaibi ethnic groups (OR [odds ratio] = 3.36 and 4.00, respectively), as well as in Tuiararé, Ngojwere, Capivara, Diauarum, and Pavuru villages (OR = 8.10, 4.10, 4.88, 1.85, and 1.40, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection is highly prevalent in these communities, as well as intestinal parasitoses. However, there were significant differences in the prevalence of H. pylori among the diverse villages studied. Giardia was closely associated with H. pylori infection.
Epidemiology; prevalence; Helicobacter pylori; giardia
