Seasonal variation in the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection: a possible cause of the seasonal occurrence of peptic ulcer disease.

Abstract

The frequency of H. pylori infection in dyspeptic patients in Israel is significantly increased during the winter months and decreased in the summer. This seasonal variation is identical to that found in duodenal ulcer disease. Thus, the seasonal variation of peptic ulcer disease could be explained by H. pylori infection, as seen in other communicable infectious diseases.