Helicobacter pylori eradication in children can sharply reduce the lifelong risks for severe gastroduodenal diseases in adulthood. The aim of this study was to assess H. pylori prevalence in 101 untreated and 33 treated children by 13 C urea breath test (UBT). Overall H. pylori prevalence was 41.8%. The UBT positivity was higher (52.7%) in untreated children with acute/chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcer compared with those with gastroesophageal reflux disease or other diseases (18.5%). The two youngest children aged three and four years were positive. Among the treated pediatric patients, more than 1/3 (36.4%) were H. pylori positive. Five children used propolis or lactobacilli, or both of them one to several days before the test and most (4) of them were UBT negative. In conclusion, H. pylori infection was frequent in Bulgarian symptomatic children and was acquired as early as at the age of 3 years. The need for avoiding propolis and probiotic use at least several days before the UBT test should be further evaluated. The eradication success was suboptimal and needs efforts for optimization. A tailored therapy according to strain susceptibility testing results is recommended, especially after eradication failures.
Key words: Helicobacter pylori , prevalence, children,13C UBT, eradication, compliance
Topic: MEDICINE