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Helicobacter pylori and recurrent abdominal pain in children
W Hardikar1, C Feekery, A Smith
1Department of Gastroenterology, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Insights
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is not a likely cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children. This study found no significant association between H. pylori antibodies and abdominal pain in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Recurrent abdominal pain is common in children, but organic causes are rare.
- Helicobacter pylori infection is known to cause gastritis in adults and children.
- A potential role for H. pylori in pediatric recurrent abdominal pain has been suggested.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and recurrent abdominal pain in children.
- To determine if H. pylori plays a significant role in the etiology of pediatric recurrent abdominal pain.
Main Methods:
- A prospective case-control study was conducted.
- Serum H. pylori IgG antibodies were measured using an enzyme immunoassay.
- Age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status were statistically adjusted.
Main Results:
- A lower prevalence of H. pylori IgG antibodies was observed in children with recurrent abdominal pain (5.1%) compared to controls (14.3%).
- The adjusted odds ratio for H. pylori infection in cases versus controls was 0.21 (95% CI, 0.05-0.85).
- This indicates a negative association between H. pylori and recurrent abdominal pain.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that Helicobacter pylori is unlikely to be an important cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children.
- Further research may be needed to explore other potential etiologies for this common pediatric condition.
Abstract:
Recurrent abdominal pain is one of the most common presentations to pediatricians; yet an organic etiology can be found in only 10% of cases. Because infection with Helicobacter pylori in adults and children results in gastritis, a causative role for the organism has been postulated. To investigate this theory, we conducted a prospective case-control study in children with recurrent abdominal pain using serum H. pylori IgG antibodies measured by an enzyme immunoabsorbent assay. Age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status were adjusted in the statistical model. Five subjects (5.1%) and 14 controls (14.3%) had raised serum IgG antibodies to H. pylori (adjusted OR, 0.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.05, 0.85). The negative association between H. pylori and recurrent abdominal pain indicates that this organism is unlikely to have an important etiologic role in this disorder.