Significance and Related Factors of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Children with Dyspepsia.

Purpose: Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium that is associated with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastric cancer. However, studies on the endoscopic finding and factors related to H. Pylori infection in children are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with H. pylori infection in children with dyspepsia.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients aged <18 years who underwent upper endoscopy for dyspepsia between January 2015 and December 2022. H. pylori was diagnosed using a rapid urease test, and the dyspeptic symptoms included postprandial fullness, early satiation, epigastric pain, and nausea.

Results: Among 185 patients, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was 16.2%. Obesity and a family history of H. pylori infection were more frequently observed in patients with H. pylori infection than in those without. Anemia was also more common in patients with H. pylori infection than in those without. H. pylori was detected in six (18.8%) patients with PUD (n=32). All six patients had duodenal ulcers and anemia, and complications such as obstruction and bleeding were significantly more common among patients with PUD who were positive for H. pylori infection than among those without.

Conclusion: We observed a low prevalence of H. pylori infection in children with dyspepsia; however, these children exhibited a more severe clinical course. Therefore, caution should be exercised in detecting H. pylori infection in children, especially, who had obesity or family history of H. pylori infection.