[Long-term observation of children with previously proved Helicobacter pylori infection].

AIM OF THE WORK: Long-term observation of children previously infected with Helicobacter pylori (HP) and evaluation of the reinfection rate after successful therapy. 29 children were included in the study: 16 girls and 13 boys, aged 9-20 years, who in 1998 were diagnosed as having gastritis and/or duodenitis and being infected with Helicobacter pylori. After the treatment, Urea Breath Test (UBT) was performed to evaluate eradication of HP. The test was repeated after 3 and 5 years. In 1998, UBT was negative in 24 of 29 patients, confirming eradication of HP. Three years after treatment, UBT revealed the presence of HP in 7 patients (24.1%) - 5 of them were children in whom eradicative therapy was unsuccessful; in the other two the result of UBT confirmed reinfection.

RESULTS

Results of UBT performed after next 2 years remained the same.

CONCLUSIONS

HP reinfection rate after successful therapy is low among children and adolescents even in the environment where the bacteria is widely spread. Elimination of HP diminishes the rate of recurrence of gastric symptoms; only in some patients remission is complete.