PEDIATRICS

The acquisition and spontaneous elimination of Helicobacter pylori inf ection occurs more often in early childhood than in adults. Recent wor k indicates that nutritional factors, such as breast feeding and a hig h intake of vitamin C and beta-carotene in the form of fruits and vege tables, may have a protective effect regarding the acquisition or pers istence of the infection. In infected children, increased apoptosis an d proliferation of the gastric epithelium have been described. H. pylo ri colonization may have possible adverse long-term effects on body he ight, and may be a risk factor for the development of extraintestinal health problems. Noninvasive methods for the detection of H. pylori se em reliable in older children, but need to be validated in infants and toddlers. Eradication rates after treatment were reported to be lower in children than in adults, but the results of a controlled trial usi ng one week triple regimes gave promising results when measures to ens ure good compliance were taken, There is a need for prospective treatm ent trials including larger numbers of children, with follow-up data f or the risk of reinfections. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 14 (suppl 1):S57- S63 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.