Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in children according to their age. A retrospective study

• Published in: Archives de pédiatrie : organe officiel de la Société française de pédiatrie Vol. 5; no. 6; pp. 617 - 620
• Main Authors: Raymond, J, Kalach, N, Bergeret, M, Sauve-Martin, H, Benhamou, P, Dupont, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.06.1998
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; France - epidemiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - epidemiology; Gastrointestinal Diseases - microbiology; Helicobacter Infections - epidemiology; Helicobacter pylori - isolation & purification; Humans; Infant; Male; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; France
• ISSN: 0929-693X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0929-693X(98)80163-2

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of H pylori infection in a Parisian children population. During a 3-year period, H pylori infection was investigated in 623 children admitted to our hospital. Children were enrolled into two groups; either a symptomatic children group with clinical gastritis manifestations as infant colics or recurrent abdominal pain for more than 3 months in whom H pylori infection was suspected, or a control children group with growth retardation of more than -2 standard deviation (SD). Ethnic origin for all enrolled children was identified. A written parental consent was obtained for all children. H pylori infection was identified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Cobas Core Roche, IgG, 2nd generation, Roche, France). H pylori infection was identified in 99 children out of 623 (15.8%). There was no difference between the two groups of children for age, sex, ethnic origin and prevalence of H pylori infection. The prevalence of H pylori infection was widely dependent on age and rose regularly with an annual acquisition rate of 2.1%. The prevalence of this infection varied from 1.8% during the first year of life to 30% in 15-year-old children. The latter prevalence is quite similar to that found in adults, suggesting that infection might occur in early life.