From the Guidelines
Helicobacter pylori infection is highly prevalent in India, with an estimated prevalence of around 50% or higher, as indicated by global data on developing countries 1. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in India can vary significantly by region, socioeconomic status, and age, with the highest rates typically found in densely populated areas with poor sanitation and lower socioeconomic conditions.
- Northern India typically shows lower infection rates, around 50-60%, compared to southern regions, which have rates of 60-80% or higher.
- The infection is usually acquired in childhood, with prevalence increasing with age.
- Risk factors in India include overcrowding, poor sanitation, lack of clean drinking water, and sharing of food and utensils. The infection is associated with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and increased risk of gastric cancer, though the "Indian enigma" refers to the relatively lower gastric cancer rates despite high H. pylori prevalence, as noted in the context of global H. pylori epidemiology 1. Standard treatment involves triple therapy with a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, or metronidazole) for 14 days, as recommended for areas with low clarithromycin resistance 1. However, antibiotic resistance is increasing in India, particularly to clarithromycin and metronidazole, sometimes necessitating quadruple therapy or sequential regimens, such as a 10-day levofloxacin-amoxicillin triple therapy as a second-line option 1.
From the Research
Prevalence of H. pylori Infection in India
- There are no research papers provided to directly answer the question about the prevalence of Helicobacter pyli (H. pyli) infection in India 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The studies provided focus on the treatment and eradication of H. pyli infection, but do not provide information on the prevalence of the infection in India.
- The studies discuss various treatment regimens, including triple and quadruple therapies, and their effectiveness in eradicating H. pyli infection 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, they do not provide data on the prevalence of H. pyli infection in India, and therefore, it is not possible to determine the prevalence of the infection based on the provided studies.