Sanamed (Aug 2020)
THE ASSOCIATION OF RECURRENT ABDOMINAL PAIN AND HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN CORRELATION WITH ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY FINDINGS
Abstract
Introduction: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) was defined according to Apley and Naish's criteria from the year 1959 as at least three or more episodes of abdominal pain lasting longer than three months in children older than 3 years, and severe enough to prevent normal activities in child. The association of RAP and H. pylori has been analyzed in several different researches, and there are conflicting results about their interconnection. However, the ethiological association of the presence of H. pylori with the onset and development of acute and chronic active gastritis and duodenal ulcer is known. Aim: The aim of this research was to determine the association of recurrent abdominal pain and Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection in childhood, in correlation with the finding of an upper endoscopy. Matherial and method: The research protocol included a total of 77/183 (42.07%) children divided by age into three subgroups: preschool age ( 3 to 6.9 years), school age ( 7 to 10.9 years) and adolescent age (11 to 15 years) in whom the diagnosis of RAB was determined by meeting the criteria according to Apley and Naish (1959), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (2005). H. pylori infection was confirmed by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed by the device for upper endoscopy type Olimpus GIF Type Q156, in the endoscopic cabinet of the Clinic for Internal Medicine, University Clinical Center Tuzla. Results: Of the total number of examined children (77), the analyse of Helicobacter pylori infection presence showed the biggest number of positive findings in school age 91.3%, in adolescent age 78.0%, while the smallest number was in preschool age (25.0%). The most common findings of upper endoscopy and microscopic findings were described as: antritis acuta in 16%, gastritis chronica activa et erosiva in 32%, and duodenitis acuta (12%). Conclusion: A significant association of H. pylori infection and RAP are confirmed by positive finding of esophagogastroduodenoscopy, leading to conclusion that immunological testing for the presence of this bacteria is justified. After obtaining a positive finding with confirmed infecion, it is necessary to start with the treatment.
Keywords
