[The analysis of usefulness different diagnostic methods in children and adolescents with Helicobacter pylori infection]

Abstract

A diagnostics of Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents in practice sometimes is still difficult. Qualification to the tests for detecting infection with invasive and noninvasive methods should start from diligent anamnesis.

The aim of the study: Is to present the clinical course and results of diagnostic tests in children and adolescents with suspicion of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Material and methods: One hundred patients aged between 18 months and 18 years who underwent endoscopy with gastric biopsies, histology, culture and 13carbon urea breath test. There were 36 boys and 64 girls in analysed group, 10% of them were preschool children, 42% school children and 48% teenagers older than 12 years

Results: Patients were symptomatic and most frequent were dyspeptic symptoms (91%). A symptom duration time was varied from several days to several years. On the basis of endoscopy and histology gastritis and/or duodenitis were found in 92 patients, esophagitis and gastritis in 5 patients, duodenal ulcer in 2 patients, in 1 case gastric and duodenal mucosa was normal. Helicobacter pylori infection was histopathologically confirmed in 37 patients. In 15 cases Helicobacter pylori strains were isolated with full in vitro sensitivity to amoxicillin, claritromycin and metronidazol. Urea breath test was conducted in 85 analyzed patients and 51 of them had abnormal result.

Conclusions: In clinical picture of Helicobacter infection most frequent were dyspepstic symptoms and by endoscopy chronic gastritis and/or duodenitis were shown. Culture of Helicobacter pylori has a limited usefulness in practice especially in patients who underwent antibiotic/eradication therapy. The statistical significant concordance occurred between culture and noninvasive 13carbon urea breath test.