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Helicobacter pylori duodenal colonization in children
Author(s) -
Bonamico M,
Mariani P,
Magliocca FM,
Petrozza V,
Montuori M,
Pezzella C,
Luzzi I,
Carpino F
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1997.tb09022.x
Subject(s) - medicine , colonization , helicobacter pylori , helicobacter infections , duodenum , gastroenterology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
To investigate the prevalence and the significance of Helicobacter pylori duodenal colonization, endoscopic duodenal biopsies were performed in 168 children with chronic abdominal pain, gastroesophageal reflux, gastrointestinal bleeding, and malabsorption syndrome. Helicobacter pylori infection was detected in 68 children (40.4%): in 31 of them H. pylori was present in the gastric antrum, and in 37 in the duodenum also. Duodenitis was observed in 25 children with duodenal H. pylori ; gastric metaplasia in 3. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of the micro‐organism in 3/13 cases; the bacteria were located in the intercellular spaces and alterations of the epithelial surface were found. In conclusion, H. pylori gastritis in children is often associated with duodenal colonization which can cause duodenitis, and also without gastric metaplasia, which indicates a possible role of the micro‐organism in the pathogenesis of the lesions.