[Helicobacter pylori gastric infections in children].
OBJECTIVE
Numerous reports have established the association of Helicobacter pylori and recurrent abdominal pain in children. We investigated the clinical, bacteriological and therapeutic features of our patients seen over a 1 year period.


METHODS
We investigated 121 children during 1992 in Hospital Saint Vincent-de-Paul, Paris. At endoscopy, biopsies were taken and sent for histology and bacteriology and urease testing. A decision regarding treatment by amoxicillin and metronidazol was made after positive results of bacteriology and/or histology.


RESULTS
Heliobacter pylori was found in 47 antral biopsies after pathology examination with Giemsa staining alone 16 times, bacterial culture 9 times and both methods 22 times. Abdominal pain was the prominent symptom, occurring in 35.5% of Helicobacter pylori+patients. In 25 of the positive negative patients, a nodular gastritis was observed (53.1%) and in 27.6% of them a weight loss or a delay in weight gain. Few patients became after combined treatment with amoxicillin and metronidazol whereas eradication rates after triple therapy with amoxicillin-metronidazol and H2 antagonist or proton pump blocker were higher.


CONCLUSIONS
Helicobacter pylori related gastritis is a common cause of abdominal complaints in children. The most common symptom is recurrent abdominal pain. Antral nodularity is a peculiar endoscopic finding in children. Two-drug therapy associating amoxicillin-metronidazol is often ineffective to eradicate the bacteria whereas eradication rates after triple therapy amoxicillin-metronidazol and H2 antagonist or proton pump blocker are higher.
Hôpital Saint Vincent-de-Paul, Paris.
P H
PH
Benhamou
N
N
Kalach
J
J
Raymond
C
C
Abdallah
C
C
Dupont
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy
Infections gastriques à Helicobacter pylori chez l'enfant.