Helicobacter pylori: a cause of chronic abdominal pain in children.
Approximately one in ten children are seen by a health care professional for a complaint of chronic recurrent abdominal pain. In most cases these complaints are non-organic. Organic causes of abdominal pain may include gastroesophageal reflux, peptic ulcer disease, gallbladder, pancreatic or kidney disease. In addition, infection of the gastric antrum with Helicobacter pylori is now included in the differential diagnosis of chronic abdominal pain in children. H. pylori are "S" or "C" shaped, gram negative bacilli with a smooth outer coat and two to four unipolar flagella. There is no known natural reservoir for H. pylori in the environment. The mode of transmission is also unknown. Multiple drug therapy is necessary to maintain long-term eradication of the organism. Until epidemiologic data are determined, universal precautions should be employed in cases of suspected H. pylori infection.
Young
R
R
Murray
N
N
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000451:nursing; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic