Epidemiological aspects of Helicobacter pylori infection in children

Abstract

Background. Among bacterial infections those caused by Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) have a special place. H.pylori infection is more common in childhood and is usually asymptomatic. The study of regional and subregional features of H.pylori infection in children is becoming increasingly important. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of statistical data of annual reports for 5 years (2015–2019) was conducted on the basis of gastroenterological hospitals in Chernivtsi. Results. For the last 5 years, gastroduodenal diseases were most common in the structure of digestive disorders. Since 2013, 916 children (45.5 %) have been diagnosed with H.pylori infection, its frequency increases with age and is sex-dependent. It was found that in 759 (82.8 %) children with a positive test for H.pylori, diseases of the stomach and duodenum were diagnosed in first- and second-degree relatives, more often through the maternal line — in 455 (59.9 %) people. There is a direct link between endoscopic nodular gastritis and H.pylori infection. Conclusions. The prevalence of H.pylori among the child population of Chernivtsi region is 45.5 %. H.pylori infection is a disease of different periods of childhood with predominance in girls and is accompanied by lesions of the gastric and duodenal mucosa, its frequency increases with age of children that is accompanied by an increase in erosive-ulcerative lesions.

Keywords

• діти, h.pylori