Study of helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents with recurrent abdominal pain

ABSTRACT

Recurrent abdominal pain [RAP] is a common pediatric diagnostic problem. An organic etiology can be found in only 10% of cases. Because infection with helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] in adults and children results in gastritis, a causative role for the organism has been postulated. The study was designed to compare the prevalence of H. pylori infection in children with RAP with healthy asymptomatic children and to investigate the related symptoms and some risk factors for acquisition of infection. Cases were 70 children presenting with RAP, controls were 20 healthy children. A standard questionnaire was used to gather social, demographic and full clinical information on each participant. The new non-invasive H. pylori antigen stool test was used to assess the infection status. Twenty seven [38.6%] children tested positive for H. pylori in the RAP group as compared to 30% in the controls [p=0.03] with no significant difference. Sixteen children were found to have other organic cause i.e giardiasis, amebiasis, worm infestation and urinary tract infection. No significant difference was detected comparing H. pylori positive children with the negative ones with respect to abdominal pain characteristics. Only nocturnal awakening was more common in H. pylori positive children. The presence of H. pylori was associated with both parents being born in a country with a high prevalence of infection, living in joint families with more family members and low social class. The study concluded that the prevalence of H. pylori infection in children with RAP is comparable to that of healthy children and it is not associated with RAP. No specific symptomatolgy could be attributed to H. pylori infection in children. Large compound families with overcrowding, bed sharing and low social level are risk factors for H. pylori infection