title: Helicobacter pylori infection and gastroesophageal reflux in children.
abstract: Some studies suggest that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection would be a protective factor for the gastroesophageal reflux. The aim of this study was to explore this fact. A group of 72 children, admitted in a pediatric gastroenterology regional center in Northeast Romania, diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux by 24-hour continuous esophageal pH monitoring (results were interpreted using the Boix-Ochoa score), underwent upper endoscopy with gastric biopsy to detect the presence of H. pylori by the rapid urease testing and for bacteriological and histologic examination. 19 children (26.39%) had H. pylori infection, while 53 (73.61%) did not. The grade of esophagitis was classified according to the Los Angeles classification system. Out of 47 children with esophagitis A, 16 (34.04%) had H. pylori infection, while out of the 25 children with esophagitis B, only 3 (12%) had H. pylori infection, with statistic significance (χ2= 54.69, P << 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]). Regarding the value of the Boix-Ochoa score, it appears that the presence of the H. pylori determines lower pH-metry scores (F = 8.13, P = 0.0015, 95% CI). The presence of the H. pylori was not an important factor in the gastroesophageal reflux. On the other hand its relationship with esophagitis appears to be inverse ratio. The fact that the H. pylori presence is statistically greater in the grade A esophagitis could confirm the hypothesis that the bacteria would slow down the development of the esophagitis.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Gr. T. Popa', Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Lupu
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Gr. T. Popa', Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ignat
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Gr. T. Popa', Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciubotariu
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Gr. T. Popa', Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciubară
authors.affiliation: Medical Informatics and Biostatistics Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Gr. T. Popa', Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moscalu
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Gr. T. Popa', Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burlea
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
keywords: 24-hour pH-metry; Helicobacter pylori; children; gastroesophageal reflux