Medical records-international medical journal (Online), vol.5, no.1, pp.132-139, 2023 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), risk factors, and co-infection with intestinal parasites in adult patients presenting gastrointestinal complaints. Materials and Methods: The working group of the study consisted of 385 patients with gastrointestinal complaints. A questionnaire including questions aiming to canvass the socio-demographic features, lifestyles, and complaints of the patients was administered to the study population. Cellophane slide method, native-lugol, sedimentation and Modified kinyoun acid-fast methods were used for the diagnosis of parasites in stool, under microscope. The H. pylori antigen was studied in the stool sample taken for the diagnosis of H. pylori.Results: H. pylori positivity was found to be 27.79% in the patients included in the study. 76.6% of those who are positive for H. pylori are women, and the positivity rate was found to be higher at the age of 40 and over (75.7%). The majority of patients with H. pylori positivity expressed being married (73.8%), having middle / low-income (89.7%), having a low educational background (82.2%), living in a village (55.1%), and in a nuclear family (72.2%) (p<0.001). H. pylori positivity was higher in those who used tap water (40.2%) and those who had a vegetable-based diet (75.7%) (p<0.001). The study found a statistically significant correlation between Entamoeba histoloytica and Enterobius vermicularis positivity and H. pylori positivity (p<0.05 p<0.001, respectively). The calculated odds ratio showed that H. pylori positivity was 1.19 times higher in Entamoeba histoloytica positivity and 11.27 times higher in Enterobius vermicularis positivity. Conclusion: Larger and more comprehensive studies should be performed to understand better the epidemiology, clinical effects, treatment, and control of H. pylori co-infection.