Triple therapy with clarithromycin, amoxicillin and omeprazole for Helicobacter pylori eradication in children and adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection presents high prevalence in developing countries, but there are few pediatric assays evaluating antimicrobial treatment.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate Helicobacter pylori eradication rate using a short regimen (7 and 10 days) of triple therapy with clarithromycin, amoxicillin and omeprazole.


METHODS
Twenty-five Hp positive patients who presented severe epigastralgia, were submitted to antimicrobial treatment with amoxicillin (50 mg/kg/day--maximum dose 1 g bid), clarithromycin (30 mg/kg/day--maximum dose 500 mg bid) and omeprazole (0.6 mg/kg/day--maximum dose 20 mg bid) during 7 or 10 days. After 2 months, clinical symptoms were evaluated and gastric biopsies were taken to test Hp eradication.


RESULTS
Overall eradication rate was achieved in 16/25 patients (64%--IC(95% = 45-83%), in 11/15 (73%--IC(95%) = 51-95%) patients who used 10 days therapy course and in 5/10 (50%--IC(95%) = 19-81%) who used 7 days therapy course. Eradication drugs were well accepted and adverse effects were reported in two patients (8%).


CONCLUSIONS
This triple therapy regimen had moderate efficacy (64%). The data suggests that 10 days therapy course achieves better eradication rate (73%) than 7 days course (50%) to treat Hp infection in our population.
Kawakami
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Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Federal University of São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina-UNIFESP-EPM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. elkawakami.dped@epm.br
Ogata
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Portorreal
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Magni
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Pardo
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Patrício
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D000293:Adolescent; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole