[Helicobacter pylori infection in children of developing countries]

A characteristic feature of Helicobacterpylori infection in developing countries is early acquisition of the bacteria during childhood. Recent study has documented the frequency of transient infection in young children in particular during the first year following eradication therapy. Children living in developing countries present several risk factors for acquisition including crowding, young age, and recurrent gastroenteritis. The risk of infection increases significantly in function of the number of infected persons in a child's family. Using molecular biology techniques based on gene sequencing, we have shown that strains in different members of the same family were identical not only between parents and children but also between siblings. The relationship between chronic diarrhoea, retarded growth, iron-deficient anaemia, and Helicobacter pylori infection in children especially from developing countries remains controversial. Gram staining of biopsy smears to detect Helicobacter pylori is an efficient diagnostic method and can be a good alternative when culture is unfeasible. Respiratory testing and detection of antigens in stools are effective and appear to be well suited to diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. In developing countries Helicobacter pylori is a common infectious agent warranting further study to gain insight into clinical presentation, epidemiological features, and treatment requirements including sensitivity to antibiotics