Helicobacter pylori in children: an Indian perspective

Helicobacter pylori is causally associated with peptic ulcer disease and gastric carcinoma. Typically children get infected with this organism during the first decade of life but diseases, associated with H. pylori, are seen mainly in adults. In India, almost 80% of population is infected with H. pylori and most of them by 10 years of age. Hence, it is important for a pediatrician to know when to suspect this infection, how to investigate and how to treat it. Extensive electronic (PubMed) literature search was done for this review and literature (randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, meta-analysis, practice guidelines) related to H. pylori in children were reviewed. Special emphasis was given to Indian studies. From this review we can conclude that H. pylori infection is very common in Indian children especially in the low socioeconomic status but most infected children remain asymptomatic through out their childhood and about 15% develop peptic ulcer disease as young adults and 1% develop gastric cancer in older age. There is no association, what so ever, of H. pylori infection and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). Endoscopy is the preferred method of investigation in children with upper digestive symptoms suggestive of organic disease. Children with H. pylori related disease (peptic ulcer, primary gastric B-cell lymphoma and atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia) but not mere H. pylori infection should be treated with the triple drug regimen comprising of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and two antibiotics for two weeks.