Helicobacter pylori infection may undergo spontaneous eradication in children: a 2-year follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection is generally acquired early in life. However, it is still unknown whether a spontaneous eradication can occur. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether H. pylori infection can undergo spontaneous eradication in children.


METHODS
Three hundred and four Italian children (age range, 4.5 to 18.5 years) were tested for H. pylori by means of 13C-urea breath test. Infected children were followed up every 6 months for as long as 2 years. Parents were instructed to record consumption of antibiotics. At each visit, children underwent a repeat 13C-urea breath test.


RESULTS
Eighty-five out of 304 (27.9%) children were H. pylori infected. Forty-eight out of 85 infected children (56.4%) participated in the follow-up study. After 2 years, 8 (16.6%) infected children had negative results on 13C-urea breath tests; 2 of them were given antibiotics for concomitant infections. One child was negative at 6 months but became positive again at the next 6-month 13C-urea breath test. Forty children remained persistently positive; of them, 10 were treated with a short course of antibiotics.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the hypothesis that, at least during childhood, H. pylori infection may be a fluctuating disease with spontaneous eradication and possible recurrence.
Division of Gastroenterology, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, I.R.C.C.S., San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
F
F
Perri
M
M
Pastore
R
R
Clemente
V
V
Festa
M
M
Quitadamo
G
G
Niro
P
P
Conoscitore
P
P
Rutgeerts
A
A
Andriulli
D000293:Adolescent; D001944:Breath Tests; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D014508:Urea
D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D014508:Urea