[Can epigastric pain and non-ulcerative dyspepsia in children and adolescents be Campylobacter pylori infection?]

Abstract

The authors examined 263 children and adolescents aged 5-20 years who suffered from so-called non-ulcerative dyspepsia or epigastric pain, because of the suspected presence of Campylobacter pylori. In 31.9% of the examined subjects direct microbiological methods revealed its presence in the gastroduodenal mucosa. The confidence limit of positive results of Campylobacter pylori in the population is between 27.58% and 38.84%, the probability being 95%. The authors proved a mutual correlation between endoscopic, histological, serological findings and detection of Campylobacter pylori by microbiological methods. The statistical significance of the correlation of campylobacter pylori and chronic gastritis B (mostly inactive) provides further support for the hypothesis of the aetiological role of Campylobacter pylori in the development of chronic gastritis B in children and adolescents. From the investigation it does not ensue, however, that colonization with Campylobacter pylori is associated with certain clinical symptoms in all instances. However, in the differential diagnosis of so-called non-ulcerative dyspepsia and epigastric pain in children and adolescents we must include infection with Campylobacter pylori among their possible causes.