Recurrent abdominal pain in children: evidence from a population-based study that social and familial factors play a major role but not Helicobacter pylori infection.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the relationship between social and familial factors, Helicobacter pylori infection and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in children in a population-based cross-sectional study among 1221 preschool children aged 5-8 years.


METHODS
H. pylori infection status was determined by 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT) and information on medical history of the child and on RAP as well as on family demographics was obtained by a standardized questionnaire.


RESULTS
Overall, 129 children (11.3%) were infected with H. pylori and 29 children were identified as having RAP within the past 3 months (2.5%). Analysis by multiple logistic regression demonstrated a clear relationship of RAP with living in a single parent household [odds ratio (OR) 2.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.2-6.7], with parental history of peptic ulcer (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.3-10.4) and with parental history of nonulcer gastrointestinal disorders (OR 5.3, 95% CI 2.1-13.2). By contrast, there was a nonsignificant relation between H. pylori infection and occurrence of RAP (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.5-5.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Social and familial factors play a major role but not H. pylori infection in RAP.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Günter
G
Bode
Hermann
H
Brenner
Guido
G
Adler
Dietrich
D
Rothenbacher
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012008:Recurrence