The purpose of this study was to determine whetherHelicobacter pylori infection can contributeto growth deficit, especially in pubescent children who need largeamounts of iron for growth. A structured questionnaire was sent to theparents of 532 healthy children aged 10 to 15 years (mean 12.9) toobtain demographic information on the parents and the environment. Ofthe 532 questionnaires sent out, 375 (70.5%; 170 girls and 205 boys)were returned. After collecting blood samples from participants,haemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin,and serum IgG antibodies to H pylori weremeasured. The effects of risk factors such as Hpylori infection, iron deficiency anaemia, sex, socioeconomic status, type of house, and crowding index on growth were analysed usingmultiple regression analysis. Of 63 H pyloripositive children, 18 (28.6%) were below the 25th centile values forheight, compared with 63 of 312 (20.2%) Hpylori negative children. The prevalence rate ofH pylori infection was 15.5% (53 of 343) inchildren without iron deficiency anaemia and 31.3% (10 of 32) in thoseaffected. The relative risk of short stature was 2.2 (95% confidenceinterval (CI), 1.0 to 4.8) for iron deficiency anaemia, and 1.4 (95%CI, 0.8 to 2.4) for H pylori infection. Themean height was significantly lower in the group having bothH pylori infection and iron deficiency anaemia. Therefore, H pylori infectionaccompanied by iron deficiency anaemia, rather thanH pylori infection per se, might delaypubertal growth.
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