Background: The role of Helicobacter pylori in chronic gastric and duodenal ulcer disease has now been proven in adults as well as in children.
Material and methods: H pylori has been looked for during endoscopy in 130 children suffering from recurrent abdominal pain (78 patients) or other symptoms (52 patients). Biopsy samples were taken from the antrum and the fundus, and were examined for histology and bacteriology (Gram staining, urease test, culture).
Results: H pylori was found in 30 cases (H pylori+ group, medium age: 12 years) and was absent in the 100 other cases (H pylori- group, medium age: 6 years). H pylori was present in 27% of children suffering from recurrent abdominal pain and 17% of children with other symptoms. Epigastric location of the pain and vomiting were equally frequent in both groups. Endoscopic gastritis, often nodular, was noted in 60% of the cases in the H pylori+ group and in 46% in the H pylori- group (NS). Chronic gastritis was noted in 90% of the cases in the H pylori+ group, and in 32% of the cases in the H pylori- group (p < 0.01). Culture was positive in 27 out of 28 cases (97%) in the H pylori+ group, including 3 cases with negative histologic examination. Twenty-two children in the H pylori+ group were treated with amoxicillin and metronidazole. Endoscopy performed about 2 months later showed eradication of H pylori in 63% of the cases, associated with disappearance of histologic lesions in 6 out of 14 cases and of symptoms in 5 out of 7 cases.
Conclusions: H pylori is associated with some pediatric cases of antral gastritis. Further studies are needed to determine the influence of its eradication on symptoms and the interest to search this pathology (by serology) in children suffering from chronic abdominal pain.