The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was evaluated by
ELISA in 40 children and teenagers and in 164 adults from a rural area of
the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Antibodies to H. pylori were
detected in the serum of 31 (77.5%) children and teenagers and in 139
(84.7%) adults. The prevalence of infection increased with age (c^2
for trend, p { 0.01) even though no variations occurred in the region in
the present century in terms of living conditions or sanitation, economical
development and migratory influx supporting the hypothesis that the
infection is also acquired during later life in developing countries. An
inverse correlation was observed between the prevalence of infection and
annual family income (c^2 for trend, p { 0.013). There was no
correlation between type of system for sewage disposal and prevalence of
infection (p = 0.8). In conclusion, the prevalence of H. pylori
infection in Nossa Senhora do Livramento, a rural area from Brazil, is
very high and similar to that observed in other developing countries.
Furthermore, the increase in the prevalence of infection with age observed
in this population seems to be due to both, cohort effect and acquisition
of the infection during later life.
