Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic T cell mediated autoimmune disease that results in destruction of pancreatic islet cells. Helicobacter pylori (HP) was recently thought to be a triggering factor for T1DM. This is a prospective case control study at Gaafar Ibnauf Children's Hospital and three other diabetic clinics in Khartoum, during the period January-September 2012. Ninety newly diagnosed T1DM children and a similar number of a control group were compared. Assessment of HP specific serum immunoglobulin was performed using Eliza test. There were 40(44.4%) female and 50(55.6%) male diabetic children. Diabetic children tested positive for HP constituted 56/90 (62.2%) compared to 59/90 (65.6%) from the control group. Diabetic children aged 11-18 years represented 46 (51%), 32/46 (57%) of them were seropositive for HP. A similar number of the same age in control group 30/46 (50.8%) were seropositive. Of 41newly diagnosed diabetic children (44.4%) of newly who complained of symptoms, 30 (53.6%) were seropositive for HP compared to 34 (37.7%) among the healthy children, out of whom 24 (40.7%) tested positive for HP. Diabetic children with moderate anemia were 35 (45.5%) compared to 54 (60.0%) in the control group. Seropositive children for HP in the 2 groups were, respectively, 20(40.8%) and 38(64.4%). Those with a poor family background were 28 (56%), 20 (40.0%) tested positive for HP, compared to 38 (64.4%), of whom 20 (64.5%) were seropositive in the controls. In conclusion, HP infection does not seem to play a role in triggering T1DM in children.
Keywords: Children; Helicobacter pylori; Sudan; Type 1 diabetes mellitus.