HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN CHILDREN - IS THERE SPECIFIC SYMPTOMATOLOGY

Helicobacter pylori is an established cause of chronic-active gastriti s in both adults and children. However, it is unclear whether H. pylor i causes specific clinical symptoms. Therefore, the spectrum of clinic al symptoms associated with H. pylori infection was studied in consecu tive symptomatic children undergoing diagnostic endoscopy at two pedia tric centers, using a structured questionnaire. In Toronto, Canada, 86 of 97 eligible children were enrolled into the study and in Limerick, Ireland, 24 of 29 were enrolled. The frequency of biopsy-confirmed H. pylori infection in Limerick, 16 of 24 (67%), was fivefold higher tha n in Toronto, 11 of 86 (13%, P = 0.0001). The two study populations we re comparable in clinical presentation and duration of symptomatology and did not differ in age (11.9 +/- 3.5 and 11.6 +/- 2.0 years, respec tively). Within both study populations H. pylori infection was not ass ociated with specific clinical symptomatology, including duration of a bdominal pain, location of pain, and history of melena or vomiting. H. pylori was positively associated with hematemesis in the Limerick gro up. These findings demonstrate that H. pylori infection in children is not associated with specific clinical symptomatology across varying g eographical locations.