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[Helicobacter pylori gastritis manifested by acute anemia]
H Bruel1, A Dabadie, P Pouedras
1Clinique Médicale Infantile, Hôpital-Sud, Rennes.
Annales De Pediatrie
|June 1, 1993
Summary
Helicobacter pylori infection can cause severe anemia in children, often presenting as digestive tract bleeding. Early diagnosis and family-wide treatment are crucial for managing this common, familial condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Helicobacter pylori gastritis commonly causes abdominal pain but can also present as severe anemia due to digestive tract bleeding.
- This case highlights a rare presentation of H. pylori infection in an 11-year-old child with severe anemia and no prior pain history.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old presented with severe regenerative anemia (5.6 g/dl) and digestive tract bleeding, with low iron and ferritin levels.
- Endoscopy revealed hemorrhagic duodenitis and antritis. H. pylori infection was confirmed via Gram stain and urea test.
- The infection was familial, with positive IgG antibodies in parents and siblings, suggesting a common source or transmission pattern.
Findings:
- The patient received a six-week course of ranitidine, amoxicillin, and tinidazole.
- Moderate interstitial antritis was noted.
- H. pylori infection is prevalent in pediatric gastritis, reported in 40-95% of cases.
Implications:
- Physicians should consider H. pylori in pediatric patients with unexplained anemia and bleeding.
- Management involves treating the index patient and family members with dual antimicrobials and an acid inhibitor.
- Recovery is typically assessed by clinical improvement and reduced anti-H. pylori antibody levels, as endoscopy is too invasive for monitoring.