Current State of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Helicobacter Pylori Infectionin Children

Overview

Serological examination of specific antibodies against H. pylori in children must be interpretedwith regard to age groups. Examination by the breath test with 13 C urea is available but foreconomic reasons it is not generally used in practice. Endoscopic examination therefore remainsunder our conditions the „gold standard“ in the diagnosis of chronic gastritis and H. pyloriinfection in children.In children there is no specific gastrointestinal symptomatology associated with H. pyloriinfection with the exception of peptic ulceration. General screening of H. pylori infection inchildren with gastrointestinal symptoms is not suitable and screening for infection is reservedfor children with serious symptoms where organic disease is suspected. There endoscopy is themethod of choice. So far the question remains open if there is any of the long-term presence ofchronic gastritis in children and the incidence of serious H. pylori dependent disease in adultage. Treatment of infection in children is essential in case of a peptic ulcer and in children withserious symptomatology and confirmed H. pylori infection, namely in those children in wholefamily there is H. pylori-positive peptic ulcer or gastric/carcinoma MALT lymphoma. Therape-utic regimes respect general guidelines according to the patient’s age group..

Key words:
Helicobacter pylori infection - children - examination methods - symptoms treatment.