Helicobacter pylori infection in pediatrics with gastrointestinal complaints.

Background: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most important pathogenic bacteria in gastric mucosa both in adults and pediatrics. Here we aimed to investigate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in pediatrics with gastrointestinal complaints by the endoscopic method and using pathology reports.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was performed in 2019-2020 in Imam Hossein hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences on medical documents of pediatrics that underwent gastric or duodenal biopsy via endoscopy. We collected data regarding patients' age, gender, place of residence, type of gastrointestinal complaints, and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection from the medical reports. We also investigated the possible correlation between the presence of Helicobacter pylori and the type of complaints among patients.

Results: A total number of 400 pediatrics entered the study. Abdominal pain was the most common complaint (42%). Helicobacter pylori infection was found in 31 cases (7.8%). The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in boys (10.7%) was significantly higher than in girls (4.6%) (P = 0.02) and was significantly related to the age group of children (P<0.001) in the way that Helicobacter pylori infection was more common in higher ages. There was no significant relationship between the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and the type of complaint (P = 0.29).

Conclusion: We showed that the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is low among pediatrics with gastrointestinal complaints and this issue could cast doubt on the high prevalence rates and importance of this infection in children.