Immunological response to Helicobacter pylori among Nigerians.

Among 420 Nigerians examined, 39% had antibodies to Helicobacter pylori. The prevalence was significantly higher in males (55%) than in females (29%). The prevalence tended to rise with age in both sexes and was significantly higher in the 30-34 years age group. Socio-economic class and rural dwellage did not affect the prevalence. The study may indicate that H. pylori is endemic in Nigeria. It also shows that the detection of antibodies to H. pylori may be a rapid and cheap method for diagnosing H. pylori infection in developing countries where sophisticated equipment for detecting this organism is not available.