Low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection evaluated by stool antigen test in preschool and school children / Baixa prevalência da infecção por Helicobacter pylori avaliada pelo teste do antígeno fecal em estudantes pré-escolares e escolares

The study evaluated the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in toddlers using the stool antigen test. Helicobacter pylori was detected in 28/113 (13.1 percent). Crowding and age were risk factors significantly associated to the infection. We conclude there is a low prevalence of the infection in the studied children.

O estudo avaliou a prevalência da infecção por Helicobacter pylori em crianças pré-escolares com o teste do antígeno fecal. H. pylori foi detectado em 28/213 (13.1 por cento), sendo fatores de risco número de pessoas no domicílio e idade. Concluímos que a infecção possui baixa prevalência na população estudada.

Triple therapy with clarithromycin, amoxicillin and omeprazole for Helicobacter pylori eradication in children and adolescents

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection presents high prevalence in developing countries, but there are few pediatric assays evaluating antimicrobial treatment. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate Helicobacter pylori eradication rate using a short regimen (7 and 10 days) of triple therapy with clarithromycin, amoxicillin and omeprazole. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five Hp positive patients who presented severe epigastralgia, were submitted to antimicrobial treatment with amoxicillin (50 mg/kg/day--maximum dose 1 g bid), clarithromycin (30 mg/kg/day--maximum dose 500 mg bid) and omeprazole (0.6 mg/kg/day--maximum dose 20 mg bid) during 7 or 10 days. After 2 months, clinical symptoms were evaluated and gastric biopsies were taken to test Hp eradication. RESULTS: Overall eradication rate was achieved in 16/25 patients (64%--IC(95% = 45-83%), in 11/15 (73%--IC(95%) = 51-95%) patients who used 10 days therapy course and in 5/10 (50%--IC(95%) = 19-81%) who used 7 days therapy course. Eradication drugs were well accepted and adverse effects were reported in two patients (8%). CONCLUSIONS: This triple therapy regimen had moderate efficacy (64%). The data suggests that 10 days therapy course achieves better eradication rate (73%) than 7 days course (50%) to treat Hp infection in our population