يافته هاي اندوسكوپيك در كودكان با سرولوژي مثبت هليكوباكتر پيلوري و تندرنس اپي گاستر در مدارس تهران

Endoscopic findings in children with Helicobacter pylori infection and abdominal tenderness

Background: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection often occurs in childhood and adolescence, with the frequency increasing with age. Hp infection is associated with insufficient hygiene, overcrowding and low socioeconomic status. Although declining in developed countries, children in the developing countries continue to have a high prevalence of Hp infection . As the association of Hp infection with chronic abdominal pain is not ubiquitously accepted, in this study we investigate the significance of endoscopic finding associated with Hp infection in children with abdominal tenderness. Methods: This cros s-sectional study included 1,665 healthy children, aged 6 to 12 years, in whom Hp infe ction was evaluated using the IgG anti-Ii. pylori test. Hp-positive children with epigastric tenderness underwent upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy. Urea se activity of gastric mucosal biopsies was measured. The presence and density of Hp organisms, the pre sence of follicular gastritis, and the nature of inflammation and gastritis activity were asse ssed by histologic examination. Results: Of 1665 children, 429 (26%) su bjec ts (51% girls , 49% boys) were seropositive for H. pylori. There was a significant association between Hp infection and older age (p