Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 26, 2026

Gastric Mucosa Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis for Detecting Helicobacter pylori and Antibiotic Resistance
05:23

Gastric Mucosa Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis for Detecting Helicobacter pylori and Antibiotic Resistance

Published on: March 7, 2025

868

Functional gastrointestinal disorders in children from low socio-economic status and Helicobacter pylori infection

F Jaime1, A Villagrán1, C Hernández1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

Child: Care, Health and Development
|July 15, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are common in low-SES Chilean school children, with female sex and low parental education being risk factors. Helicobacter pylori infection was not associated with FGIDs in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Limited data exists on functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in low socio-economic status (SES) children, particularly in South America.
  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is endemic in many low-SES populations, yet its link to FGIDs in children remains understudied.
  • This study addresses the knowledge gap by investigating FGID prevalence and H. pylori association in Chilean school children from low-SES backgrounds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) among school children in low socio-economic status (SES) communities in Santiago, Chile.
  • To explore the relationship between FGIDs and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in this specific pediatric population.
  • To identify demographic and familial factors associated with FGID development in low-SES children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 506 school children from three public schools in low-SES areas of Santiago, Chile.
  • Utilized the Rome III Questionnaire and an additional symptom survey to diagnose FGIDs.
  • Employed the 13C urea breath test to detect Helicobacter pylori infection.

Main Results:

  • Forty-two percent of the children experienced FGIDs, with aerophagia and functional constipation being most prevalent.
  • Factors associated with FGIDs included being female (adjusted OR 1.5), having parents with the lowest education level (adjusted OR 1.6), and a family history of gastric cancer (adjusted OR 1.9).
  • The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 55.9%, and while abdominal pain showed a marginal association (OR 1.55), FGIDs overall were not significantly related to H. pylori infection.

Conclusions:

  • Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are highly prevalent in low-SES school children in Santiago, Chile.
  • Female gender, lower parental education, and family history of gastric cancer are significant risk factors for FGIDs in this population.
  • Despite a high prevalence of H. pylori infection, this study found no direct association between H. pylori and FGIDs in the studied children.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Retinal and Choroidal Thickness Changes in Populations with Helicobacter pylori Infection by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography03:47

Retinal and Choroidal Thickness Changes in Populations with Helicobacter pylori Infection by Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Published on: November 1, 2024

427
Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Antibiotic Resistance via Stool Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis04:56

Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Antibiotic Resistance via Stool Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis

Published on: May 16, 2025

1.3K

Related Concept Videos

Other Disorders of Digestive System01:30

Other Disorders of Digestive System

The gastrointestinal tract is susceptible to various disorders. If the lower esophageal sphincter is damaged, stomach acid can flow back into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation of the lining. This condition is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (known as heartburn) and may cause chest pain and difficulty swallowing. In the stomach, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, chronic alcohol consumption, bacterial infections such as Helicobacter...
1.6K
Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy01:16

Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy

Helicobacter pylori, a resilient gram-negative bacterium, can thrive in the stomach's harsh, acidic environment. Infection with H. pylori leads to a cascade of events within the stomach lining. One of the critical disruptions caused by this bacterium is the interference with somatostatin production, a hormone responsible for regulating acid secretion. This interference tips the balance, escalating acid secretion and diminishing bicarbonate levels. This imbalance compromises the defensive...
1.6K
Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:28

Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) presents with diverse symptoms depending on the location and severity of the ulcer. Clinical manifestations of peptic ulcer include dull pain and a burning sensation in the mid-epigastric region.
Few clinical manifestations differentiate gastric ulcers from duodenal ulcers. Distinctions in the location, timing, and pain relief are crucial for healthcare providers in differentiating between gastric and duodenal ulcers during clinical assessments.
695
Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction01:30

Peptic Ulcer Disease I: Introduction

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) is characterized by mucosal excavation in the esophagus, stomach, pylorus, or duodenum. It can manifest as acute or chronic based on the extent and duration of mucosal involvement.
An acute ulcer, marked by superficial erosion and minimal inflammation, swiftly resolves upon identifying and addressing the underlying cause. In contrast, a chronic ulcer persists, potentially eroding through the muscular wall and forming fibrous tissue.
Peptic ulcers can also be...
933
Gastritis-II: Pathophysiology01:17

Gastritis-II: Pathophysiology

Gastritis is marked by disruption of the mucosal barrier that usually protects the stomach tissue from digestive juices and manifests in acute and chronic forms.
In acute gastritis, the gastric mucosa becomes swollen and red and undergoes superficial erosion. Superficial ulceration may lead to bleeding.
In chronic gastritis, persistent or repeated insults lead to chronic inflammatory changes and, eventually, thinning or atrophy of the gastric tissue.
Gastritis can stem from various causes, each...
1.5K
Pathophysiology of Peptic Ulcer Disease: Injurious Factors01:22

Pathophysiology of Peptic Ulcer Disease: Injurious Factors

Peptic ulcers are sores on the stomach's inner lining and the upper small intestine, which are the result of disruptions in the mucosal layer that houses parietal cells which produce gastric acid, and chief cells which secrete pepsinogen.
In the antrum region, G cells secrete the gastrin hormone that binds to gastrin-cholecystokinin-B (CCK2) receptors on parietal and enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in the fundic glands. Simultaneously, the vagus nerve releases acetylcholine, which binds...
1.4K