HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT ABDOMINAL-PAIN

Helicobacter pylori was cultured and Helicobacter-like organisms (HLO) were seen in 6 (16%) of 37 children with recurrent abdominal pain. Fi ve children had concomitant histological inflammation, but none had en doscopic changes. All 6 children demonstrated positive serology. Compa red with the total group, they were more often from developing countri es, larger families and lower social groups. Treatment with phenoxymet hyl penicillin and colloidal bismuth subcitrate did not result in side effects or elevated serum levels of serum bismuth. Three children dem onstrated metronidazole-resistant strains and the treatment of these c hildren remained an unsolved problem. Among the 31 H. pylori/HLO negat ive children 8 (26%) demonstrated histological changes, 5 (16%) endosc opic changes and 11 (35%) had positive serology. In conclusion, pathol ogical findings at upper gastrointestinal endoscopy are common in chil dren with recurrent abdominal pain. Because of disconcordance between endoscopy, histology and culture, we recommend that biopsies should al ways be taken to clarify the diagnosis.