FREQUENCY OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION AS DETECTED BY STOOL ANTIGEN TEST IN PATIENTS WITH FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA

OBJECTIVES To determine H. Pylori frequency in patients presenting with functional dyspepsia using H. Pylori antigen test in the stool sample.   MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and sixty-five adult patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of functional dyspepsia to the medical outpatients’ Department of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar, were tested for Helicobacter Pylori by detecting stool Helicobacter Pylori antigen. Patients with chronic debilitating illnesses or peptic ulcer disease were excluded from the study. The frequency of the positive test was calculated. The independent-sample t-test and Chi-square test were used to compare the results for different variables. A P-value of 0.05 was considered significant.   RESULTS Out of 165 patients, 54% were males and 46% were females. The mean age of the patients was 32±7 years, ranging from 18 to 52 years. The stool antigen test for H. Pylori was positive in 58% of patients. Proton pump inhibitor drugs significantly affect the positive results. Alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly different between the stool antigen-positive and stool antigen-negative patients.   CONCLUSION Helicobacter Pylori infection is quite common in patients with functional dyspepsia. These patients with positive antigen tests should be treated with H. Pylori eradication therapy.   KEYWORDS Helicobacter Pylori, Dyspepsia, Stool antigen test