Study of Helicobacter pylori in children with atopic dermatitis

Background Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) was considered to be associated with the development of atopic dermatitis in one study and stated to have inverse association with the disease in another. Objective To further study the relation between the organism and this disease in larger groups of patients comparing them with normal control. Establishment of a relation between H. pylori and atopic dermatitis might help in the use of eradication therapy of this organism as a means of treatment of this dermatosis. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 100 patients with atopic dermatitis comparing them with 50 controls as regard detection of H. pylori antigen in the stool and immunoglobulin G antibodies against the organism in the sera of both groups. Results H. pylori antibody was higher in the sera of the control group (mean± standard deviation: 21 ± 12.4) when compared with the atopic dermatitis group (mean± standard deviation: 16.3 ±7.23) with statistically significant difference (P 0.01). H. pylori antigen was higher in the control group (odd ratio 1) but with statistically insignificant difference from atopic dermatitis group. Conclusion Our results suggest an inverse association of the organism with atopic dermatitis. Therefore, we could not recommend eradication therapy of H. pylori as a part of the treatment regimen of atopic dermatitis.