Coexistence of iron deficiency anemia with Helicobacter pylori infection among children aged 6 to 12 years in Erbil city

Abstract

Background: The cause of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) refractory to iron therapy is suggested the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
The  aim  of  this  study  was  to  evaluate  the  relation  between  H.  pylori infection and IDA among children aged between 6-12 years old.
Patients and Methods: This was a case-control study conducted for six months starting from August 2018 until February 2019 included 50 children with IDA and 50 age and sex-matched non-anemic controls, attending the pediatric outpatient clinic at Rapareen pediatric Hospital, Erbil, Iraq. All of the participants were subjected to clinical evaluation and the following investigations: CBP, serum iron, serum ferritin, and stool for H. pylori.
Results The  results  indicate  that  there  was  a  statistically  significant association between IDA and H. pylori infection. 12% of IDA cases had positive  H.  pylori  antigen  in  stool  in  contrary  to  only  2%  of  healthy (control) group. Chi-square test was done and P-vale was 0.04.
Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate an association between positive H. pylori infection and IDA in children between 6 and 12 years old. Moreover, the infection may increase the severity of anemia.