EVALUATION OF TRITHERAPY WITH AMOXICILLIN , METRONIDAZOLE, AND LANSOPRAZOLE IN THE TREATMENT OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN INSTITUTIONALIZED MENTALLY-DISABLED CHILDREN

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the amoxicillin-metronidazole c ombination given with an inhibitor of gastric acid secretion (lansopra zole) in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in mentally-di sabled children, Patients and methods: H. pylori, infection was diagno sed based on cultures and histologic studies of gastric specimens obta ined from 22 mentally-disabled children with gastrointestinal symptoms ., Mean age was 15.6, +/- 4.3 years. Treatment consisted of amoxicilli n, metronidazole, and lansoprazole. A repeat biopsy for cultures and h istologic studies was obtained one month and a C-13 urea breath test s ix months after treatment completion. Results: Follow-up tests were ob tained in 16 patients after one month and in five after six months, an d were negative in 50% and 20% of patients at these two time-points, r espectively. Conclusion: Tritherapy with amoxicillin, metronidazole, a nd lansoprazole is associated with a low rate of H. pylori eradication after one and six months in mentally-disabled children.