Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection using immunochromatography among patients attending Tamboul Hospital in Gezira State, Sudan: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori causes a major health problem worldwide; more than half of the world’s population are infected with this pathogen. The diagnosis of the infection was initially made through invasive methods, but now non-invasive methods have been developed to make diagnosis easier. This study aimed to screen the presence of H.pylori antibodies and antigen among symptomatic and asymptomatic patients at Tamboul City in Gezira State. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tamboul city, Gezira State, Sudan between March 2016 and December 2019 to compare between antigen and antibody tests results used for diagnosis of H. pylori infection among symptomatic and asymptomatic Sudanese patients. Stool and blood samples were collected and analyzed for presence of antigen and antibodies to H. pylori using immunochromatography (ICT) cards. Results: Serum and stool samples were collected from 100 patients; 50 were symptomatic and 50 were asymptomatic. In symptomatic patients, 18/50 (36%) were men (32; 64%, women) with mean age of 16.7±24.6 years. In this group, 35/50 (70%) showed positive results for stool antigen, while 30/50 (60%) were positive for serum antibodies. In asymptomatic patients, 19/50 (38%) were men (31; 62%, women) with mean age of 16.7±20.4 years. In this group, 18/50 (36%) were positive for stool antigen and 25/50 (50%) for serum antibodies. There was a significant association between antigen results and patient group (P=0.001), but there was an insignificant association between antibodies results and patient group (P=0.317). Age group, history of infected persons in the family, blood group, and previous treatment were all not associated with H. pylori infection (P≥0.05). Conclusion: The frequency of H. pylori antigen was higher than antibodies in symptomatic patients, while the frequency of H. pylori antibodies was higher than antigen in asymptomatic patients.