Background and Objective: Helicobacter pylori infection is a chronic bacterial infection in humans, and its link to epilepsy has been reported in some studies. This study was conducted to compare the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with and without epilepsy.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 234 patients with focal and generalized epilepsy (the case group consisted of 88 males and 146 females) referring to Alavi Hospital in Ardabil, Iran and 234 individuals without epilepsy (the control group consisted of 88 males and 146 females) during 2019. Stool samples were taken from the subjects to assess the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen. Demographic information, including age, gender, place of residence, a history of alcohol, cigarette, hookah, and opium use, and the test result of the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen, were collected in a checklist.
Results: The frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection was determined to be 67.2% in the case group and 71.1% in the control group, and no statistically significant difference was found between the case and control groups. Cigarette and opium use had statistically significant relationships with epilepsy (P<0.05). Moreover, opium users had a 6.92 times higher odds rate (OR) of contracting Helicobacter pylori infection than other individuals (CI 95%=1.05-45, OR=6.92, P<0.04).
Conclusion: No difference was observed in Helicobacter pylori infection between individuals with and without epilepsy.