Gastroduodenal disorders in children

The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition pub lished guidelines for the evaluation of children suspected of being infecte d with Helicobacter pylori. The stool antigen test for H. pylori, which was recently commercialized in the United States, was evaluated in two high-ri sk pediatric populations. The results are encouraging but should be interpr eted with caution. A number of studies suggest that delayed gastric emptyin g may accompany a variety of disorders, or may be a cause of vomiting. The outcome of children with dyspeptic symptoms is described, and the results w ill be helpful in reassuring anxious parents. Studies examining the develop ment of H, K-adenosine triphosphatase in infants and the role of enteric gl ial cells in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis are discussed. A study of neonates with allergic gastroenteropathy suggests that this disorder ma y be more common in this age group than generally thought. Curr Opin Gastro enterol 2001, 17:513-517 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.