Background and purpose: Iron anemia deficiency and helicobacter pylori infection are common diseases throughout the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and H. pylori CagA+ infection among children under 5 years of age.

Materials and methods: An analytical-descriptive study was performed in Hajar and Kashani hospitals in Shahrekord, Iran, 2014. We investigated the seropositive prevalence of H. pylori CagA+ infection in 59 children with IDA and compared the results with that of 69 sex- and age-matched non-anemic children using SPSS V.20.

Results: The mean age of participants in case and control groups was 42±3 and 40±2 months, respectively. The controls and cases included 30 boys and 29 girls and 30 boys and 39 girls, respectively. In anemic children 50% were found to be positive for IgG anti-CagA while in non-anemic group 8% were detected. The results showed significant relationship between the two groups (P< 0.01).

Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori infection may induce iron deficiency anemia and CagA virulence factor may play a role in the severity of anemia.