Comparison of Epidemiological and Clinical Symptoms and Chronic Gastritis in HelicobacterPylori Infected Children in Two Geographically Different Populations (Czech Republic, France)

Overview

Background:
H. pylori infection can be acquired in early childhood. There are not enough data on the natural outcome and long-term implications of H. pylori infection in childhood. It cannot be ruled out, however, that in different geographical conditions the outcome of H. pylori infection can be quite different. There are few data to knoty if this is so also in children. Authors conducted a study to compare epidemiological data, clinical symptoms, endoscopic and histological changes in H. pylori -⁠ infected children in two different geographical populations, Lille, the northern part of France and Plzeň, western part of the Czech Republic.Patients and methods: A total of 45 H. pylori -⁠ infected children (30 Czech children and 15 French children), range 10 -⁠ 16 years, were enrolled in this study. All had completed the follow-up protocol (a questionnaire, Epi info software) that comprised clinical symptoms, epidemiological data, endoscopic fmdings (OMED) and histological examination. Gastric samples were analyzed for histological changes by two experienced pathologist (E.M.L.) and (J.K.) by a double blind method. The histological changes were classified according to the 5ydney classification.Results: There were no statistical differences between both H. pylori infected groups of children for age, sex, socioeconomic background and symptoms. However, there was a significant difference (p

Key words:
Helicobacter pylori, children, gastritis, geographical differences