title: Eighteen month follow up of Helicobacter pylori positive children treated with amoxycillin and tinidazole.
abstract: Sixty three children with dyspepsia (mean age 12 years, range one to 18, M/F 41/22) were Helicobacter pylori positive by histology of gastric antral biopsy specimens and were treated with a six week course of amoxycillin (50 mg/kg) and tinidazole (20 mg/kg). The endoscopic diagnoses were: normal (16), nodular gastritis (19), oesophagitis (four), duodenal ulcer (13), and gastric ulcer (11). H pylori was eradicated in 54 (87%) and histological gastritis resolved in 51 and was improved in the other three. Repeat investigation was offered at six monthly intervals. Reinfection was found in three of 34 (9%) at six months, in none of 22 at 12 months, and in two of 18 (11%) at 18 months, yielding an 18 month cumulative relapse rate of 20%. Children with persisting infection despite treatment remained positive during follow up. Serum H pylori IgG concentrations fell after treatment (p < 0.001), and for individual children during follow up there was a progressive decline, but an increased concentration indicated recurrence. After eradication of H pylori by combined amoxycillin and tinidazole treatment, only a minority of children relapse during the ensuing 18 months.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oderda
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaira
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ainley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osborn
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Altare
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ansaldi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D014011:Tinidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D014011:Tinidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin