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Pediatric Helicobacter Pylori Infection

Background

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a gram-negative bacillus responsible for one of the most common infections found in humans worldwide.
Warren and Marshall first cultured and identified the organism as Campylobacter pylori in 1982. By 1989, it was renamed and recognized to be associated closely with antral gastritis (gastric and duodenal ulcers in adults and children). In recognition of this crucial discovery, they were awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine in 2005. By the early-to-mid 1990s, further evidence supported a link between chronic gastritis of H pylori infection in adults and malignancy, specifically gastric lymphoma and adenocarcinoma.

A fascinating study using the ability of molecular fingerprinting (multilocus sequence typing [MLST]) reported on following the spread of H pylori by human ancestral roots from Africa. Moodley et al estimated that H pylori is approximately as old as modern humans and that migration out of Africa occurred in several waves, the first one 60,000 years ago and the second 52,000 years ago.

Objectives of current and future research on H pylori include improving the understanding of the immunopathogenesis of gastric disease associated with H pylori infection, elucidating the modes of transmission, and improving the safety and efficacy of vaccines to prevent H pylori infection.

Children differ from adults with respect to H pylori infection in terms of the prevalence of the infection, the complication rate, the near-absence of gastric malignancies, age-specific problems with diagnostic tests and drugs, and a higher rate of antibiotic resistance. These and other differences explain why some of the recommendations for adults may not apply in children.


Helicobacter pylori infection revealed by endosco

Helicobacter pylori infection revealed by endoscopy (nodular gastropathy).

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Helicobacter pylori–associated peptic ulcer in th

Helicobacter pylori–associated peptic ulcer in the duodenal bulb.

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