Risk factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in children with gastrointestinal symptoms in Vietnam

•A total of 81.3% of children with gastrointestinal symptoms tested positive for Helicobacter pylori.•Having family members with a history of H. pylori infection increased the risk of infection.•Handwashing with soap is associated with a lower risk of H. pylori infection. To investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with Helicobacter pylori infection in Vietnamese children. Children under 16 years old with gastrointestinal symptoms underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and H. pylori infection was diagnosed using rapid urease test. A total of 246 children with gastrointestinal symptoms were included. The mean age was 8.4 ± 2.6 years. A total 81.3% tested positive for H. pylori. Children infected with H. pylori had a lower rate of nausea but a higher rate of lesions in the duodenal bulb and nodular lesions than children without H. pylori infection (26.5% vs 45.6%, P