Helicobacter pylori Infection in Pediatric Patients: Update on Diagnosis and Eradication Strategies

This article provides commentary on the last ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines and on publications made after the consensus conference of 2015. The majority of infected children are asymptomatic and pediatric studies do not support a role forH. pylori in functional disorders such as recurrent abdominal pain. The role ofH. pylori infection in failure to thrive, children ’s growth, type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and celiac disease remains controversial. The diagnosis of infection should be based on upper-digestive endoscopy with biopsy-based methods. Eradication control after treatment should be based on validated non-invasive tests. Nodular gastritis is the mai n endoscopic finding of childhoodH. pylori infection, but gastroduodenal erosions/ulcers are seen in some children, especially after 10  years of age. When indicated, eradication treatment should be given when good compliance is expected and based on the antimicrobial susceptibility profile.
Source: Pediatric Drugs - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research