Review for 10.1186/1471-230X-10-62 (2010)

Reviewer's report
Title:Helicobacter pylori in apparently healthy children aged 0-12 years in urban
Kampala, Uganda: a community-based cross sectional survey.
Version: 1Date:17 February 2010
Reviewer: Lucia Braga
Reviewer's report:
This study is the first survey describing the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori
colonization among children in an urban area in Uganda. This is a simple,
well-performed study, it used an accurate methodology to identify H. pylori
infection, the authors screened the children for HIV infection and included only
HIV negative children, this is a very important issue since several studies have
shown that the prevalence of H. pylori in HIV-positive individuals might be lower
than the HIV negative ones.
I have a few suggestions to improve the paper:
- Minor Essential Revisions
The paper needs some minor editing to review the grammar and spelling.
line 10 and throughout the paper - colonization and not clonisation
line 12 recentl,y
line 13 Urea 13 breath test should be written as 13Urea breath test
line 14 suchas - such as
line 40 characterised - characterized
line 85 analyse - analize pg 7
line 42 subsidised - subsidized
1-Introduction
Line 13 ´´Until recentl,y technically advanced and time consuming methods, for
example the Urea 13 breath test, which is not recommended in children younger
than 4 years´´.
This information needs be rewritten and add reference.
Studies from Brazil showed that the breath test is sensitive and specific for all
ages even in one year children (Cardinalli etal 2003). Studies from Egypt,
showed that Breath test and the HpStar stool antigen test were highly sensitive
and specific noninvasive tests for the diagnosis of H pylori in children (Frenck
RW et al 2006).
The advantage of the antigen stoos test is the ability to obtain accurate results
rapidly without the need for sophisticated laboratory equipment.
Cardinali, LCC, Rocha, GA, Rocha, AM et al. Evaluation of C-urea breath test
and Helicobacter pylori stool antigen test for diagnosis of H. pylori infection in
children from a developing country. J. Clin. Microbiol. J Clin Microbiol. 2003
Jul;41(7):3334-5.
Frenck RW Jr, Fathy HM, Sherif M, Mohran Z, El Mohammedy H, Francis W,
Rockabrand D, Mounir BI, Rozmajzl P, Frierson HF. Sensitivity and specificity of
various tests for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori in Egyptian children
Pediatrics. 2006 Oct;118(4):e1195-202
2- Methods
-The authors should mention how the children were selected. Randomly?
- How were the stool samples transported from the field to the lab? At room
temperature? at 4ºC ( on ice )?
-After describing the H. pylori stool antigen test ( page 7) it is necessary to
mention the sensitivity and specificity of the test and to add the reference .
3-Results
- It is important to know the number of children in each age group and not only
the percentage (1-<3 years 46.0 % , 3-<6 years 51.7 %, 6-<9 years 54.8
%).9-<12(40.0 %). - Specify the age of the youngest child included, providing a
more accurate age range. In the text the age range mentioned is 0-1 year old.
- Table 1 showed the variable semi permanent house. Which is the definition for
semi permanent house. How long, approximately, the individuals lived in those
houses.
It would be important to provide information regarding the use of antibiotics not
only drugs in general.
4-Discussion
In the discussion it was mentioned that twelve children received H. pylori
treatment. It would be important mention the age of those children.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests