PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI AMONG SYMPTOMATIC AND ASYMPTOMATIC ULCER PATIENTS ATTENDING MADONNA UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ELELE, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori is a microaerophilic organism and a gram negative bacterium which is found in the alimentary canal. It causes chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers. It is also linked to the development of duodenal ulcers, stomach cancer and chronic gastritis. The main aim of this research was to determine the occurrence of H. pylori infection in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic ulcer attending Madonna University Teaching Hospital. The study design was a cross-sectional hospital-based study and purposive sampling technique was used. Participants included all the patients with symptoms of ulcers from age of 11 and above. Eighty (80) clinical samples comprising of stool (40,50%) and blood (40, 50%) were collected from male and female patients and their demographic information recorded. The H. pylori stool antigen and blood antibody test kits lot:hpag23120101 EXP:12-2025 was used for the analysis. Statistical analysis was carried on the data generated using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21. A total number of 53 {stool, 27 (51%) and blood, 26 (49%) samples were positive to H. pylori infection with total percentage prevalence of 66.3. The H. pylori infection among various age group was found to be high among 21-30 and low in age group 11-20 years at prevalence of 17 (63.0%) and 9 (33.3%) respectively. Observation found that female subject had the higher H. pylori infection at percentage prevalence of 43.4 than their male counterparts with 41.5. In conclusion this work has revealed the presence of H. pylori infection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in Madonna University. The findings of this study will give the authorities in health sector a good chance to put in place adequate preventive measures against H. pylori infection. Importantly, all confirmed cases of H. pylori infection should be treated to avoid the chances of transmission and steady supply of clean water to the residents.