The risk of HP infection for young children from kissing

Children under 10 years old are susceptible to HP infection due to the quality of environment, hygiene, eating habits, especially kissing.

According to Dr. Dao Van Long, former Head of the Gastroenterology Department of Bach Mai Hospital, 70% of the Vietnamese population is infected with HP, among which children under 10 years old are most susceptible. Young children because the immune system is not really complete, so the risk of infection is high.

Children infected with HP may experience complications of indigestion, acute and chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, which can lead to long-term cancer. Children carrying bacteria will lose appetite, nausea, grow slowly, have severe vomiting of blood or have bad stools.

The way of transmission of disease in young children is mainly mouth - mouth and feces - mouth. Children are kissed and perfumed in the mouth by an adult to show their loving gesture without knowing they have accidentally infected the HP virus if an adult has bacteria in their body. Young children are also fed early, put food, share chopsticks, drink glasses so the ability to spread disease is very high.

Besides, children are young so they have no sense of self-protection and health care for themselves. Children often forget to wash their hands after using the toilet or contacting unclean areas, playing with dirty pets, and the risk of spreading the disease.

Dr. Long said each country has different recommendations about treating HP bacteria. In Vietnam, if there are no symptoms, no immediate treatment is needed. The appropriate age for HP treatment is 30-40. Children without severe symptoms can still live completely normal. In addition to harm, HP is still beneficial as reducing gastrointestinal infections, reducing allergies in children.

How to prevent HP infection for children

- Limit chewing food for children, kissing young lips.
- Each person should have separate eating and drinking utensils.
- Instruct children to wash hands with soap after using the toilet.
- Kill flies, cockroaches ... are the vectors.
- Regularly check up the whole family to prevent disease.