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Gastric Mucosa Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis for Detecting Helicobacter pylori and Antibiotic Resistance
Published on: March 7, 2025
[Helicobacter pylori in children in Hospital Nacional de Niños, San José de Costa Rica]
Patricia Rivera1, A Carranza, F Hernández-Chavarría
1Servicio de Patología, Hospital Nacional de Niños, San José, Costa Rica.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection was found in 31.8% of Costa Rican children with dyspeptic symptoms. This highlights the need to test young children for H. pylori, especially in developing nations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases Epidemiology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is common in developing countries.
- Gastritis is linked to H. pylori in Costa Rican adults, but pediatric data is scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of H. pylori in Costa Rican children with dyspeptic symptoms.
- To address the gap in pediatric H. pylori epidemiology in Costa Rica.
Main Methods:
- Studied 264 children (3 months–17 years) undergoing upper endoscopy for dyspepsia.
- Collected biopsies for H. pylori isolation and histopathological examination.
Main Results:
- H. pylori was identified in 31.8% of the children.
- 96 children had gastritis; H. pylori was present in 73 of them.
- H. pylori was also found in 11 children with normal gastric mucosa.
Conclusions:
- H. pylori infection is prevalent in Costa Rican children with gastric discomfort.
- Testing for H. pylori is crucial in young children presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly in developing countries.
Abstract:
Infection with Helicobacter pylori is more prevalent in developing than in developed countries. Several publications from Costa Rica associate this agent with almost 70% of the adults suffering gastritis; however, there are not data about its prevalence in children. In order to address that gap in the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori in Costa Rica, we study 264 children (3 months to 17 years old) remitted to upper endoscopy due to dyspeptic disorders. From each case at least two biopsies were taken; one for Helicobacter isolation and the others for histopathological study. 96 of the children showed any grade of gastritis and in 73 of them was identified H. pylori; also, this agent was associated with 11 of the children without alteration in their gastric mucosa. In total, H. pylori was identified in the 31.8% of the studied cases. The two younger patients infected were a 1 and 2 years-old boys; the former had normal mucosa and the other had gastritis. These data confirm the importance of investigate Helicobacter in young children with gastric discomfort, mainly in developing countries.
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