Helicobacter pylori in Pediatrics

Abstract

This review concerned the important pediatric studies published between April 2012 and March 2013. Symptomatology in Helicobacter pylori-positive children is nonspecific, except for those suffering from peptic ulcer diseases. Investigation of H. pylori status in children and adolescents with sideropenic anemia is recommended, and it is the aim of several studies worldwide. Associations of H. pylori with plasma ghrelin levels as well as the negative association of H. pylori with atopic disease were interesting objectives for several studies this year. Success rates of sequential therapy tended to be lower in recent studies than in previous trials, which probably reflects the increase in macrolide resistance. A beneficial effect of probiotics was reported although not all trials supported this result in children. Intrafamilial transmission and young age could be major risk factors associated with reinfection in children.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children. Antimicrobial Resistance and Treatment Response

“…Given these resistance rates, the use of antibiograms to guide treatment is advisable. In children whose treatment included antimicrobials susceptible to the strain causing the infection, the eradication rate was 78.7%: although this percentage was lower than that achieved in adults , it was similar to that obtained in many other child populations . This failure could have been due to poor compliance with the prescribed regimen or to the development of antimicrobial resistance during treatment.…”

Helicobacter pylorirecurrence after eradication in Latin America: Implications for gastric cancer prevention

“…Reducing reinfection rate is complex as it involves improving living conditions and reducing potential environmental sources of reinfection, including consideration of interventions at the family or the village levels, and possibly vaccination[24]. In this approach, children become a challenging target group with higher therapeutic failure and higher reinfection as seen in most studies (including this meta-analysis)[25-27]. …”

A novel one-step Helicobacter pylori saliva antigen test

“…4,10,11 In addition to facilitating epidemiological research, noninvasive H. pylori testing can be successfully used for pre-endoscopic screening of patients referred to a gastroenterology 12 service for investigating dyspepsia as well as therapeutic monitoring after eradication therapy. Using noninvasive tests to screen young patients and children 4,10 who present with dyspepsia has been advocated on the basis of a decrease in overall endoscopy workload and resultant financial savings.…”