Helicobacter pylori is not associated with nonspecific abdominal pain in children

J Pediatr Surg. 1996 Jun;31(6):747-9. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3468(96)90121-9.

Abstract

Nonspecific abdominal pain is a significant problem in the pediatric population, and there has been much recent interest in the role that Helicobacter pylori (HP) might play in this disorder. A retrospective review was conducted at our center to determine its prevalence among children with otherwise undiagnosed abdominal pain. The study was conducted over a 45-month period during which 47 patients underwent gastroscopy and antral biopsies in the workup of this problem. Of the 37 patients who did not have a history of acid-pepsin disease (APD), only one (2.7%) tested positive for HP. In contrast, of the 10 who had a history of APD, three (30%) tested positive (P < .03). There were no distinguishing features among the HP-positive patients except for the presence of associated antral gastritis. Based on the current endoscopic results, of the nine patients with current evidence of APD, four (44%) were positive for HP; of the other 38 patients, none was positive for HP. Therefore, HP appears to be associated with antral gastritis, and HP does not play a role in nonspecific abdominal pain in this population.

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / microbiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Female
  • Gastritis / diagnosis
  • Gastritis / microbiology
  • Gastroscopy
  • Helicobacter Infections / complications*
  • Helicobacter Infections / diagnosis
  • Helicobacter pylori*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pyloric Antrum / pathology
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies