title: Paediatric Halitosis and Helicobacter pylori Infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection by stool antigen test in children with and without halitosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Paediatrics, Fatih University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, between December 2008 and June 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients aged between 3-15 years who presented to paediatrics outpatient clinic with halitosis and 55 healthy children aged between 4-15 years without halitosis were included in the study. Halitosis was confirmed with organoleptic test. Stool antigen test was performed in both groups. Intergroup proportions were compared using chisquare and Fisher exact tests with significance at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The H. pylori stool antigen test was positive in 11 out of 53 patients (20.8%) with halitosis and 12 of 55 healthy controls (21.8%). The rate of positive H. pylori stool antigen test results were similar between two groups (p > 0.05). Twoweeks eradication treatment was administered to 11 patients with H. pylori infection and halitosis. After treatment, the symptoms of 8 patients with halitosis (72.7%) completely resolved and persisted in 3 patients (27.3%). Seven of the 11 patients who were administered eradication treatment also had abdominal pain along with halitosis. Both symptoms completely resolved in all those patients after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although no statistically significant difference existed between the rate of H. pylori infections among those with and without halitosis. Eradication treatment was found beneficial in the treatment of children with halitosis and positive H. pylori stool antigen test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Fatih University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. aysesra@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ayse Esra
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Meki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilici
authors.forename: Alparslan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tonbul
authors.forename: Musemma
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karabel
authors.forename: Guzide
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Tugba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006209:Halitosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial