Time trend prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection and endoscopic findings in symptomatic children in Portugal: A retrospective study based on three time points in 2009, 2014, and 2019.
Helicobacter
; 28(4): e12963, 2023 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36896844
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Helicobacter pylori infection acquisition occurs mainly in childhood and may be a critical factor in developing long-term complications. In contrast to other developed countries, previous studies have reported a relatively high H. pylori infection prevalence in Portugal, both in children and adults. However, there are no recent data concerning pediatric population. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
We performed a retrospective observational study concerning an 11 years period (2009, 2014, 2019), that included patients under 18 years old who underwent upper endoscopy at a pediatric tertiary center. Demographic, clinical-pathological, and microbiological data were collected.RESULTS:
Four hundred and sixty one children were included. The average age was 11.7 ± 4.4 years. In total, H. pylori infection was confirmed in 37.3% of cases (histology and/or culture) and a decreasing infection trend was observed (p = .027). The most common indication for endoscopy was abdominal pain, which was a good predictor of infection. Antral nodularity was present in 72.2% of the infected children (p < .001). In the oldest age groups, moderate/severe chronic inflammation, H. pylori density and lymphoid aggregates/follicles were positive predictors for the presence of antral nodularity. For all ages, the presence of antral nodularity, neutrophilic activity in the antrum and corpus and lymphoid follicles/aggregates in the antrum were positive predictors for the presence of H. pylori infection. Among the 139 strains tested for antibiotic susceptibility, 48.9% were susceptible to all tested antibiotics. Resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and both was detected in 23.0%, 12.9%, and 6.5% of the strains, respectively; furthermore, resistance to ciprofloxacin and to amoxicillin was observed in 5.0% and 1.4% of the strains, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:
The present study reports (for the first time in Portugal) a significant decreasing trend in the prevalence of pediatric H. pylori infection, although it remains relatively high compared to the recently reported prevalence in other South European countries. We confirmed a previously recognized positive association of some endoscopic and histological features with H. pylori infection, as well as a high prevalence rate of resistance to clarithromycin and to metronidazole. The clinical relevance of these findings requires confirmation with further studies at a national level, taking into account the high incidence rate of gastric cancer in Portugal and the potential need for country-specific intervention strategies.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Helicobacter pylori
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Infecções por Helicobacter
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Child
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Humans
País como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article