[Chronic gastritis in children: evaluation after eleven years]

Chronic gastritis (CG) was diagnosed in 38 of 130 children with abdominal pain treated between 1980-1982. After eleven years, 20 of the 38 patients with CG were re-examined clinically and gastroscopically. Six gastric biopsies for hitopathological examination and two for CLO tests in each patient were taken. In 13 of 20 additional staining for H. pylori was done in the biopsy specimens take 11 years ago. In 95% (19 of 20) patients, CG and H. pylori infection were found. Thirteen of them (all examined) had already been infected with HP in childhood. Gastritis had progressed or remained unchanged in 90% (17 of 19) patients in the corpus and in 75% (15 of 20) in the antrum. All 6 patients who had duodenal ulcers (DU) in childhood had recurrences of DU. Thirty-one percent (4/13) of patients with persisting CG that had no ulcers previously, now had DU or erosions. All 19 patients with CG and HP infection received triple therapy. In 6 of 7 those regression or disappearance of CG and HP eradication were seen re-examined.

CG which began in childhood progresses or persists until adulthood in all H. pylori - positive patients. We suggest that children with H. pylori-positive CG should receive anti-H. pylori treatment.