What are Potential Problems Associated with Helicobacter pylori?
Discussion
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a microaerophilis, spiral bacterium that is a prevalent human pathogen. How this infection affects individuals is different in adults and children. Overall seroprevalence rate in children world-wide was estimated to be ~33%, but this seroprevalence rate is decreasing in the developed world for both adults and children. It is acquired in childhood and can persist through colonization throughout life if untreated. Fortunately, it often is asymptomatic and generally does not cause serious disease in children.
Some serotyping data shows that within families children acquire it more often from mothers than from fathers.
Learning Point
H. pylori causes gastritis (chronic), peptic ulcer disease (PUD), gastric adenocarcinoma and MALT (mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma) in adults. Many of the studies have been conducted in adults and extrapolating to children is not appropriate. Potential clinical problem may not be caused by H. pylori but rather may only be associated with it in children. Many of those listed below are certainly not specific to H. pylori.
PUD can cause upper abdominal pain and potential gastrointestinal bleeding but is not common in children. Testing is recommended if PUD is identified.
Functional abdominal pain – testing is not recommended
Iron deficiency anemia – testing is not recommended for initial investigation, but may be appropriate for refractory anemia
Chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpu...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
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