Nonulcer dyspepsia and Helicobacter pylori eradication in children.

Background: Controversy exists over Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in the treatment of patients with nonulcer dyspepsia. The lack of pediatric studies has made it difficult to draw conclusions about the use of eradication in dyspeptic children. The aim of this study was to examine long-term symptom severity in pediatric patients with nonulcer dyspepsia and H pylori gastritis after H pylori eradication.

Methods: Thirty-nine children (mean age, 9.0 years) with dyspepsia and H pylori gastritis were prospectively recruited. Severity of symptoms was graded before H pylori eradication. Each patient was followed up at 6, 12, and on average, 61.6 months after eradication, with reassessment of symptoms and H pylori status.

Results: There was a significant reduction in the severity of symptoms at 6 and 12 months, and at long-term follow-up compared with the preeradication scores (all P < . 001). At long-term follow-up, reinfection with H pylori was associated with more severe symptoms than if the patients remained free of infection (P = .045).

Conclusions: This study has demonstrated a significant long-term improvement in nonulcer dyspepsia in children after eradication of H pylori. This provides further evidence for the consideration of H pylori eradication in pediatric patients presenting with nonulcer dyspepsia.