Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori Infection

H. PYLORI EPIDEMIOLOGY INFECTION AND WHY EXPOSURE THROUGH CONTAMINATED WATER MAY BE A PARTICULAR CONCERN IN SOME COUNTRIES
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Helicobacter pylori infections have remained a significant public issue of concern globally. Researchers indicate that this bacterium often causes stomach or duodenum-localized infections that can impact patients’ quality of life. It irritates and inflames the gut, leading to paints and visible discomforts. This disease has gained attention from researchers because of its increased prevalence in different parts of the world. Trends demonstrate that although it occurs worldwide, it appears to remain significantly higher in some global regions compared to others. Thus, this aspect reflects the importance of investigating its epidemiology and explaining why people remain vulnerable to exposure to contaminated water in some countries.
Recent studies reveal the epidemiological trends of this infection in different contexts. Sjomina et al. (2018, p. 1) state that researchers recorded the highest prevalence of H. pylori in the African region, with 79.1%. Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia closely follow 63.4% and 54.7% rates, respectively (Sjomina et al., 2018, p. 1). They further state that Oceania and North America presented the least rates at 24.4% and 37.1%. Findings presented by Sjomina et al. (2018, p. 1) confirm that over 4.4 billion people became diagnosed with this infection in 2015, constituting approximately 60.3% of the world’s population. Trends reveal that the early days of the 21st century were characterized by a declining rate in the industrialized nations while the rates remained stagnant in the developing states.
Regionalized data provides a more precise situation of the epidemiological trends of Helicobacter pylori. Sample countries in Europe, including the Czech Republic data, illustrate that the infection rates in the region have been declining from 2001 to 2011, as denoted by the change from 41.7% to 23.5% (Sjomina e...