Helicobacter pylori gastritis in children: endoscopical and histological aspects.

UNLABELLED: Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is involved in both digestive and extradigestive diseases. Endoscopically, antral location of gastritis, as well as antral nodularity, a consequence of the development of lymphoid follicles in the mucosa of this area, are considered by some authors specific for gastritis in children. Histologically, lymphoid follicles, noticed usually in children, are considered pathognomonic.

AIMS: To establish prevalence of gastritis in children and the correlation between of endoscopical and histological findings.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group included 267 children in whom upper digestive endoscopy was performed for digestive symptoms. The diagnosis of Hp infection was based on the concordance between the positive urease test and the histological examination (documenting the presence of Hp in the gastric mucosa).

RESULTS: Endoscopical aspect of antral nodular gastritis was mainly found in children infected with Hp. Follicular gastritis, considered the histological marker of nodular gastritis, was also revealed in congestive gastritis. Patients infected with Hp most often displayed chronic gastritis and noninfected patients acute gastritis. Hp was not found in gastric mucosa without histological changes.

CONCLUSIONS: Nodular pattern of antral mucosa might be considered specific for Hp infection in childhood. In patients infected with Hp chronic gastritis was mainly found while in noninfected children acute gastritis was usually revealed. Hp was not found in gastric mucosa without histological changes.