title: Treatment of Helicobacter pylori in children with recurrent abdominal pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of Helicobacter pylori remains unclear in children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). In this study children with RAP were included in a double blind treatment study to elucidate whether symptoms disappear in children with a H. pylori infection and RAP, if the bacteria are eradicated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven H. pylori-infected children aged 4.9-14.5 years (median 9.8 years) with RAP were included. H. pylori was identified by histology and culture. The children were treated with amoxicillin and metronidazole for 14 days. A re-endoscopy including biopsies for histology and culture was done at least one month after the end of treatment. Simple questions for symptoms were asked and blood for serology was repeated 3 and 6 months after the end of treatment. During the observation period the results of the re-endoscopy and the serology 3 and 6 months after the re-endoscopy were blinded for 23 patients and opened to 14 of the patients according to the choice of the families.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The eradication rates were 81% (30/37) in the total group and 74% (17/23) in the blinded group. The IgG antibodies to H. pylori decreased significantly 3 (p =.03) as well as 6 months after end of treatment (p <.001) in children with successful eradication. The number of children with RAP decreased after examination and treatment and the well-being improved after 6 months in almost 95% of the children. However, no correlation was seen between eradication of H. pylori and disappearance of RAP, neither after 3 nor after 6 months' observation in the total group of patients (p =.94 and p =.90) or in the blinded group (p =.42 and p =.65).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results do not provide evidence for a causal relationship between RAP and H. pylori.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics H, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wewer
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paerregaard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gernow
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Matzen
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Krasilnikoff
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D008795:Metronidazole; D000658:Amoxicillin