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Updated: May 18, 2026

Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Antibiotic Resistance via Stool Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis
Published on: May 16, 2025
Clinical practice: Helicobacter pylori infection in childhood
1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Marmara University School of Medicine, Fevzi Çakmak Mah. Mimar Sinan Cad. No 41, Pendik, İstanbul, Turkey, dertem@hotmail.com.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori infection, a common childhood issue, causes gastritis and peptic ulcer disease (PUD). New strategies are needed as antibiotic resistance decreases eradication rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori infection is a primary cause of childhood gastritis and peptic ulcer disease (PUD).
- Prevalence varies globally, remaining high in parts of Europe and Asia.
- Symptoms in children are often nonspecific, including abdominal pain and anemia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of current knowledge and evidence-based guidelines for H. pylori infection in children.
- To discuss clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies.
- To highlight challenges in eradication and the need for novel approaches.
Main Methods:
- Review of latest evidence-based guidelines and scientific literature.
- Analysis of diagnostic methods, including invasive and non-invasive tests.
- Evaluation of current and emerging treatment strategies for H. pylori eradication.
Main Results:
- H. pylori diagnosis utilizes invasive (endoscopy) and non-invasive tests (e.g., urea breath test, stool antigen).
- Standard first-line treatment involves dual antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor.
- Declining eradication rates due to antibiotic overuse necessitate new treatment strategies.
Conclusions:
- Effective diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori in children are crucial for preventing long-term complications.
- Addressing antibiotic resistance is key to improving eradication success rates.
- Continued research into novel therapeutic approaches is essential for managing H. pylori infection in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
Helicobacter pylori infection is recognised as a cause of gastritis and peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and usually acquired during the first years of life. While there is a decline in the prevalence of H. pylori infection in northern and western European countries, the infection is still common in southern and eastern parts of Europe and Asia. Symptoms of H. pylori-related PUD are nonspecific in children and may include epigastric pain, nausea and/or vomiting, anorexia, iron deficiency anaemia and hematemesis. Besides, only a small proportion of children develop symptoms and clinically relevant gastrointestinal disease. H. pylori infection can be diagnosed either by invasive tests requiring endoscopy and biopsy or non-invasive tests including the (13)C-urea breath test, detection of H. pylori antigen in stool and detection of antibodies in serum, urine and saliva. The aim of treatment is at least 90 % eradication rate of the bacteria, and a combination of two antibiotics plus a proton pump inhibitor has been recommended as first-line treatment. However, frequent use of antibiotics during childhood is associated with a decline in eradication rates and the search for new treatment strategies as well. This is an overview of the latest knowledge and evidence-based guidelines regarding clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infection in childhood.
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