title: Helicobacter pylori infection in children with recurrent abdominal pain.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori was cultured and Helicobacter-like organisms (HLO) were seen in 6 (16%) of 37 children with recurrent abdominal pain. Five children had concomitant histological inflammation, but none had endoscopic changes. All 6 children demonstrated positive serology. Compared with the total group, they were more often from developing countries, larger families and lower social groups. Treatment with phenoxymethyl penicillin and colloidal bismuth subcitrate did not result in side effects or elevated serum levels of serum bismuth. Three children demonstrated metronidazole-resistant strains and the treatment of these children remained an unsolved problem. Among the 31 H. pylori/HLO negative children 8 (26%) demonstrated histological changes, 5 (16%) endoscopic changes and 11 (35%) had positive serology. In conclusion, pathological findings at upper gastrointestinal endoscopy are common in children with recurrent abdominal pain. Because of disconcordance between endoscopy, histology and culture, we recommend that biopsies should always be taken to clarify the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wewer
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Henriksen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tvede
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Krasilnikoff
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008795:Metronidazole; C002791:bismuth tripotassium dicitrate