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Helicobacter pylori infection in children

Is there specific symptomatology?

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Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is an established cause of chronic-active gastritis in both adults and children. However, it is unclear whetherH. pylori causes specific clinical symptoms. Therefore, the spectrum of clinical symptoms associated withH. pylori infection was studied in consecutive symptomatic children undergoing diagnostic endoscopy at two pediatric centers, using a structured questionnaire. In Toronto, Canada, 86 of 97 eligible children were enrolled into the study and in Limerick, Ireland, 24 of 29 were enrolled. The frequency of biopsy-confirmedH. pylori infection in Limerick, 16 of 24 (67%), was fivefold higher than in Toronto, 11 of 86 (13%,P=0.0001). The two study populations were comparable in clinical presentation and duration of symptomatology and did not differ in age (11.9±3.5 and 11.6±2.0 years, respectively). Within both study populationsH. pylori infection was not associated with specific clinical symptomatology, including duration of abdominal pain, location of pain, and history of melena or vomiting.H. pylori was positively associated with hematemesis in the Limerick group. These findings demonstrate thatH. pylori infection in children is not associated with specific clinical symptomatology across varying geographical locations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pediatrics and Microbiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    R. Reifen MD, I. Rasooly MD, B. Drumm MD, K. Murphy MD &  P. Sherman MD

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    R. Reifen MD, I. Rasooly MD, B. Drumm MD, K. Murphy MD &  P. Sherman MD

  3. Department of Paediatrics, University College, Dublin, Ireland

    R. Reifen MD, I. Rasooly MD, B. Drumm MD, K. Murphy MD &  P. Sherman MD

  4. Division of Gastroenterology (Rm 1448), The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, M5G 1X8, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    R. Reifen MD, I. Rasooly MD, B. Drumm MD, K. Murphy MD &  P. Sherman MD

Authors
  1. R. Reifen MD
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  2. I. Rasooly MD
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  3. B. Drumm MD
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  4. K. Murphy MD
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  5. P. Sherman MD
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Additional information

P. Sherman is the recipient of a Career Scientist Award from the Ontario Ministry of Health.

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Reifen, R., Rasooly, I., Drumm, B. et al. Helicobacter pylori infection in children. Digest Dis Sci 39, 1488–1492 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088053

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088053

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