What Is New Related to Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children and Teenagers?

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection is a common bacterial infection for humans, and the organism is the most prevalent gastric microbial pathogen. However, the major route of transmission remains poorly understood. The outcome of chronic H pylori infection varies from asymptomatic gastritis to peptic ulceration and gastric malignancies. Recently, H pylori has been associated with the development of extradigestive disorders, including refractory iron-deficiency (sideropenic) anemia and chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. Virulence factors of H pylori and host genetic factors are both considered important determinants of disease outcome. Multiple tests, including novel noninvasive approaches, are available for establishing the presence of H pylori infection, but there is still little consensus about which study should be performed and in what clinical setting. Eradicating H pylori uses combination therapy, including a proton pump inhibitor and 2 antibiotics taken twice daily for 7 to 14 days. Antibiotic resistance is a growing and serious problem that interferes with the success of eradication therapy. Testing and eradication therapy for H pylori are currently recommended only for the subset of infected persons in whom the disease sequelae are proven or highly suspected.

What do we know about benefits of H. pylori treatment in childhood?

“…The reviewed epidemiologic evidence supports current recommendations from expert guidelines that children with a first episode of IDA and no complications should be treated only with iron supplementation, regardless of their H. pylori infection status. 6,13,14 …”

<i>HELICOBACTER</i> INFECTION AND ALLERGY IN MAJORITY AND ROMA POPULATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

“…Our findings seem to confirm the hypothesis of a positive role of HP infection in the development of allergic diseases. Persisting HP infection can also be connected with additional extragastric problems such as low iron anemia, growth problems and other health disorders (Kariya et al, 2014;Kato and Sherman, 2005;Pacifico et al, 2014). It is possible to speculate that higher exposure to chemical agents and antibiotics (compared to the situation 100 years ago) results in reduction of HP infection and subsequent increase of allergic diseases and asthma (Blaser, 2012), which further supports the hypothesis of HP infection-induced protection against allergies.…”

“…Among them, effects of infections such as Bordetella pertussis, flu, enteroviruses, hepatitis A or Toxoplasma gondi were found (Amedei et al, 2010;Reibman et al, 2008). The most studied effects seem to be persisting infection with Helicobacter Pylori (HP) (Amedei et al, 2010;Arnold et al, 2011;Blaser, 2012;Bode et al, 2002;Bridge and Merrell, 2013;Chen and Blaser, 2008;Karimi et al, 2013;Kato and Sherman, 2005;Krumbiegel et al, 2000;Oertli and Muller, 2012;Pacifico et al, 2014;Perez-Perez et al, 2003;Reibman et al, 2008;Rothenbacher et al, 1998). HP survives in the human gastrointestinal tract and, in addition to clinical manifestations such as lymphoma, adenocarcinoma or gastric ulcers, it can cause iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or growth retardation in children (Amedei et al, 2010).…”

Helicobacter pylori—Associated Dyspepsia in Paediatrics

“…Few randomized, placebo-controlled treatment trials are available in children for the different outcomes (gastritis or peptic ulcer), and often consist of only small numbers of cases [86,106]. Clearly in children as in adults, successful eradication of H. pylori markedly reduces the risk of ulcer recurrence [107][108][109][110]. Thus, there is general consensus worldwide to treat H. pylori infection when there is endoscopic evidence of peptic ulceration.…”