Childhood recurrent abdominal pain and Helicobacter pylori infection, Islamic Republic of Iran

We examined the role of Helicobacter pylori infection as a cause of recurrent abdominal pain [RAP] among Iranian children in a population-based case-control study to determine the association between H. pylori infection and RAP among schoolchildren. A total of 1558 children aged 6-13 years were examined. Children with RAP confirmed by the Apley and Naish criteria were selected; 145 cases were selected for inclusion and were compared with 145 healthy children recruited from the same area. Both groups underwent stool antigen testing. The prevalence of RAP in the children tested was 9.3%. Children with RAP had a higher H. pylori infection rate than the control group [58.6% vs 44.8%] [OR = 1.744; 95% CI: 1.095-2.776]. There was no significant difference between the RAP symptoms in children with positive stool test, i.e. infected with H. pylori, and those whose tests were negative. We identified H. pylori infection in more than 55% of the case group. Therefore, H. pylori infection can be considered an important factor for RAP in children

Prevalence of celiac disease in patients with irritable bowel syndrome in Ardabil-Iran [2009-10]

Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorder and is one the common conditions seen by gastroenterologists in their daily practice. This study was done to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in patients with irritable bowel syndrome in Ardabil-Iran. This descriptive study was conducted on 105 patients with IBS whome referred to the gastroenterology unit in Ardabil-Iran during 2009-10. Serum IgA anti tTG were measured all patients with positive for antibodies against tTG were candidated for upper endoscopy and biopsy. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, t-test, Chi-Square and Fisher's exact tests. The average age of IBS subjects were 31.4 +/- 10.14 years [range 16-63 years]. Celiac disease was diagnosed in 14 subjects [13.5%]. The celiac patient age were 22-55 years with mean of 34.93_9.47. Among celiac afflicted patients IBS type D and M observed among 10 and 4 patients, respectivley. Celiac affected female constituted 12 [85.7%] of all patients [P<0.05]. 10 of these patients were IBS-D and 4 with IBS-M. From 14 celiac patient 4 [28.57%] were family related, but this rate among IBS patient was 3.3%, this difference was significant [P<0.05]. This study showed that the prevalence of celiac in patients with IBS is found to be 13.5% which seem is more than ther studies in other parts of Iran