Furazolidone, tetracycline and omeprazole: a low-cost alternative for Helicobacter pylori eradication in children.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate furazolidone, tetracycline and omeprazole as first line therapy for Helicobacter pylori in children with digestive symptoms.


METHODS
Prospective and consecutive open trial. The study included patients older than 8 years old with functional dyspepsia, functional abdominal pain, severe histological abnormalities (intestinal metaplasia, gastric atrophy or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma) or peptic ulcer. H. pylori status was defined based both upon histology and rapid urease test. Drug regimen was a 7-day course of omeprazol, tetracycline (or doxycycline) and furazolidone twice daily. Eradication was assessed by upper endoscopy 2 months after treatment (histology and rapid urease test). Further clinical evaluation was done 7 days and 2 months after treatment.


RESULTS
Thirty-six patients (21 female/15 male) were included. Age ranged from 8 to 19 years (mean 12.94+/-2.89 years). On intention-to-treat analysis (n = 36), eradication rate was 83.3% (95%CI 77.1-89.5) whereas in per-protocol analysis (n = 29), it was 89.7% (95%CI 84.6-94.7). Compliance was better when doxycycline was used, but the success rates were similar for the two tetracyclines. There was no variable associated with treatment failure. Side effects were reported in 17 patients (47.2%), mainly abdominal pain (11/30.5%), nausea (seven/19.4%) and vomiting (five/13.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
Triple therapy with furazolidone and tetracycline is a low-cost alternative regimen to treat H. pylori infection.
Machado
Rodrigo Strehl
RS
Serviço de Apoio Diagnóstico e Terapêutico, Hospital Infantil Cândido Fontoura, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. rodrigo@gastroped.epm.br
Silva
Marcello Ruiz da
MR
Viriato
Aírton
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005664:Furazolidone / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D005664:Furazolidone; D013752:Tetracycline; D009853:Omeprazole