TY - JOUR
T1 - Helicobacter pylori infection may undergo spontaneous eradication in children
T2 - A 2-year follow-up study
AU - Perri, Francesco
AU - Pastore, Maria
AU - Clemente, Rocco
AU - Festa, Virginia
AU - Quitadamo, Michele
AU - Niro, Grazia
AU - Conoscitore, Pasquale
AU - Rutgeerts, Paul
AU - Andriulli, Angelo
PY - 1998/8
Y1 - 1998/8
N2 - Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is generally acquired early in life. However, it is still unknown whether a spontaneous eradication can occur. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether H. pylori infection can undergo spontaneous eradication in children. Methods: Three hundred and four Italian children (age range, 4.5 to 18.5 years) were tested for H. pylori by means of 13C-urea breath test. Infected children were followed up every 6 months for as long as 2 years. Parents were instructed to record consumption of antibiotics. At each visit, children underwent a repeat 13C- urea breath test. Results: Eighty-five out of 304 (27.9%) children were H. pylori infected. Forty-eight out of 85 infected children (56.4%) participated in the follow-up study. After 2 years, 8 (16.6%) infected children had negative results on 13C-urea breath tests; 2 of them were given antibiotics for concomitant infections. One child was negative at 6 months but became positive again at the next 6-month 13C-urea breath test. Forty children remained persistently positive; of them, 10 were treated with a short course of antibiotics. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that, at least during childhood, H. pylori infection may be a fluctuating disease with spontaneous eradication and possible recurrence.
AB - Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is generally acquired early in life. However, it is still unknown whether a spontaneous eradication can occur. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether H. pylori infection can undergo spontaneous eradication in children. Methods: Three hundred and four Italian children (age range, 4.5 to 18.5 years) were tested for H. pylori by means of 13C-urea breath test. Infected children were followed up every 6 months for as long as 2 years. Parents were instructed to record consumption of antibiotics. At each visit, children underwent a repeat 13C- urea breath test. Results: Eighty-five out of 304 (27.9%) children were H. pylori infected. Forty-eight out of 85 infected children (56.4%) participated in the follow-up study. After 2 years, 8 (16.6%) infected children had negative results on 13C-urea breath tests; 2 of them were given antibiotics for concomitant infections. One child was negative at 6 months but became positive again at the next 6-month 13C-urea breath test. Forty children remained persistently positive; of them, 10 were treated with a short course of antibiotics. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that, at least during childhood, H. pylori infection may be a fluctuating disease with spontaneous eradication and possible recurrence.
KW - Breath test
KW - Children
KW - Eradication
KW - Gastritis
KW - Helicobacter pylori
KW - Urea
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U2 - 10.1097/00005176-199808000-00010
DO - 10.1097/00005176-199808000-00010
M3 - Article
C2 - 9702650
AN - SCOPUS:0031928019
VL - 27
SP - 181
EP - 183
JO - Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
JF - Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
SN - 0277-2116
IS - 2
ER -