2017, Number 3
Importance of Helicobacter pylori in pediatrics according to a diagnostic study conducted in a group of children
Andrade RM, García PW, Davas AY, Hernández RL
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Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 290-298
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ABSTRACT
Introduction: primoinfection caused by Helicobacter pylori is present at pediatric ages and is frequently reported in 10 to 80 % of cases according to ages and social origin. The clinical symptoms are abdominal pain, general malaise, nauseas, vomiting and others. The consequences are chronic gastritis, duodenal ulcer and other diseases of major pathogenic significance. In our country, the association of Helicobacter pylori and the child is unknown, so we intended to study it. Objective: to study a group of school children seen at the physician´s office because of their dyspeptic signs for more than three months. To this end, the biochemical reagent called Gastropyl®, manufactured in our labs, was used. Methods: a prospective and descriptive study was conducted in 100 patients younger than 16 years, who had been seen at the outpatient service of ¨William Soler¨ teaching pediatric hospital and in medical service units of the catchment area of the said hospital. They all had pre-endoscopic diagnoses of dyspepsia or chronic abdominal pain. Digestive system endoscopy was performed due to their dyspeptic symptoms. Results: in the study group, 64 were grade schoolers aged 8 to 11 years and 36 were junior high schoolers aged 12 to 15 years; 58 were females and 42 males. The stated clinical symptoms were mainly abdominal pain (96 patients), heartburn and/or pyrosis (49) and anorexia (24). Endoscopic exam showed chronic gastritis in 60 children. Gastropyl® urea test confirmed Helicobacter pylori gastritis in a gastric mucosal fragment taken in 46 children. From the histological viewpoint, the gastric biopsy yielded 67 patients with chronic gastritis of whom 52 presented with Helicobacter pylori according to Giemsa and eosin-hematoxylin staining Conclusions: our schoolchild population is infested with Helicobacter pylori in a high percentage, but the figure is lower than that reported in research studies performed in Third World countries.