Abstract

ZACUR, M et al. Helicobacter Pylori in Children. Pediatr. (Asunción) [online]. 2006, vol.33, n.1, pp.26-31. ISSN 1683-9803.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is the causative agent of an infection seen throughout the world, highly prevalent in developing countries. It is related with chronic gastritis in children and adults, and with stomach cancer in adults having had the infection in childhood. There are no data on HP in children in our country, which motivated this study, whose objective was to obtain information on HP infection and its presentation in the pediatric population. This is a retrospective, descriptive observational transverse cut study of 80 patients aged 1 to 17 years, presenting to the Hospital Nacional between January 2000 and July 2005 and having had gastroscopy and gastric biopsy. HP infection was demonstrated in 15% of patients, with an average age of 12 years. The most frequent symptom was abdominal pain. Gastroscopic findings were typical.

Keywords : Helicobacter pylori; children; frequency; age at presentation; manifestations.