title: Recurrent abdominal pain and Helicobacter pylori in a community-based sample of London children.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori is accepted as an important factor in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease. Infection is probably most commonly acquired in early life but there is still limited information on the prevalence or symptomatology of H. pylori infection in childhood. The aim of the present study was to establish the prevalence of H. pylori infection in a large sample of urban school children and to determine its relationship, if any, to a history of recurrent abdominal pain. Using a commercial ELISA significant levels of anti-H. pylori IgG antibody were detected in 107/640 (16.7%) of school children (M, 383; F, 257; mean age 9.15 years, range 4-13). No relationship was demonstrated between H. pylori seropositivity and a personal or family history of recurrent abdominal pain or the nature of the pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Chelsea and Westminster Children's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: O'Donohoe
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Brueton
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barltrop
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D014505:Urban Population