Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic gastritis in children

Objective: To study the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and chronic gastritis in children. Methods:1 404 cases aged 1 to 14 years old between 2000 and 2002 were studied. All patients were diagnosed to have chronic gastritis by gastroscopy. In these patients, biopsies were taken for pathologic examination and Hp were detected by urease test, Giemsa staining, serologic examination and /or 13 C-UBT and/or HpSA were done at the same time.Results:Of the 1 404 children, 636 (45.3%) were Hp positive. Hp was detected in 71.2% of 233 patients with nodular gastritis, 68.0% of 156 patients with peptic ulcers. These positive rates were statistically higher than that in patients of other types chronic gastritis (P0.01). Mucosa inflammation were more severe and lymphoid follicles were more frequently found in Hp infection group compared with Hp negative group (P0.01). Conclusions:The Hp positive rate is 45.3% in children with chronic gastritis and increases with age. Chronic gastritis, particularly nodular gastritis and peptic ulcers in children are closely associated with Hp infection. The more severe the gastric mucosa lesions, the higher positive rates of Hp.