A trial of Helicobacter pylori checkup for junior high school students in the Nara city of Japan

Abstract

The benefits of a Helicobacter pylori checkup in young students were examined by screening 159 third-grade students at a junior high school in the Nara city of Japan. Many parents were also interested in the checkup. Five students were found to be infected. The H. pylori infection rate was 3.1%, and it was comparable to the previous nationwide reports. Considering the high incidence of family infection of H. pylori, we attempted to check the infection in families. Four family members in two families were examined and three members were found to be infected. One of them had undergone an eradication therapy. An H. pylori checkup in young people is expected to lead to the primary prevention of gastric cancer.