ANTIBIOTIC abuse is a major reason many Nigerians end up developing stomach ulcer, a study has said.
Researchers found that prior use of antibiotics, overcrowding and having siblings or parents that previously had stomach ulcer increases the possibility of contracting Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection that causes stomach ulcer.
The study, which looked at the risk factors for acquiring Helicobacter pylori Infection in Nigeria, found that individuals currently on antibiotics were five times more likely to develop H. pylori infection.
For the study, the researchers involved 347 adults who visited six tertiary hospitals in Nigeria with stomach ulcer with symptoms like upper abdominal pain, bloating, nausea or early satiety.
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The 2018 study, published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, involved Dr Stella Smith of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research. Others are Olufunmilayo Lesi, Rose Ugiagbe, Dennis Ndububa and Olusegun Adekanle.
Out of the study participants, 37.5 per cent tested positive for H. pylori infection that causes stomach ulcer but the prevalence of the infection was higher among the 31 to 40 age group.
The participants who grew up with three people in one apartment/house showed a significantly higher prevalence (71.4 per cent) compared to those who grew up with one or two persons (34 per cent).
In addition, participants who had a parent (either mother or father) and siblings with a history of ulcer or gastritis had a 3.58 times higher risk of developing H. pylori infection compared to those whose parents did not have a history of ulcer/gastritis.
Similarly, those who were currently taking hypertension or diabetes drugs were 5.6 times less likely to develop H. pylori infection than those who were currently not taking these drugs.
However, the study found that occupation, smoking and drinking habits as well as drugs being taken regularly and so on, was not enough reason to get infected with H. pylori infection.
The researchers, however, declared mothers had a key role in the transmission of H. pylori infection.
According to them, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the fact that the dosages are usually not completed, resulting in treatment failure due to drug resistances, accounted for the problem.
They added: “In Nigeria, most mothers premasticate food, blow food to cool or taste food with infant spoon before giving to their babies. This could be one of the strongest routes of H. pylori acquisition.
“It is therefore pertinent to monitor the antibiotic usage in the populace as well as conduct educational and enlightenment programmes to educate people about the risk of overcrowding as well as behavioural practices such as blowing of food to cool and pre-mastication of foods from mothers to babies in order to further reduce the risk of H. pylori infection in Nigeria.”
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