[Epidemiologic and endoscopic aspects of Helicobacter pylori infection in Vientiane, Laos].

From January 1996 to March 1997, Helicobacter pylori infection was studied prospectively for 200 consecutive patients presenting with epigastric pain. 29 of them were excluded. Bacteriological (Gram, CLO-test) and histological methods were used to identify the bacteria from the gastric mycosis samples. Overall prevalence of infection was 68.4% with no differences according to age and sex; infection was more frequent for patients with duodenal ulcers (80%) than for those with normal endoscopical aspect (60.6%).