Association between Helicobacter Pylori Infection in the Gastric Mucosa and Severity of Gastric Inflammation in Children and Teenagers

Background and aim: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterial infection which is highly likely to be developed during childhood. The present study was conducted aiming to examine the degree of H. pylori colonization in gastric mucosa and its association with the severity of gastritis in children and adolescents.Method: The present study examined 1006 biopsy samples of children and adolescents under the age of 18 who visited Hamedan Be’sat Hospital from 2011 to the end of 2018 while showing chronic gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting as well as weak responses to medications regarding presence and severity of H. pylori, histological findings of gastritis severity, active and non-active gastritis types as well as atrophy and metaplasia.Results: Out of 1006 biopsies, it was found that 766 samples (76.1%) had different degrees of H. pylori colonization. Moreover, it was revealed that the highest degree of H. pylori was moderate (49.9%) in the group with mean age of 8.94, and, moreover, the lowest degree of H. pylori belonged to the rare (1.9%) and severe (2.5%) categories in the mean age groups of 7 and 10.48, respectively. Also, it was found that the highest and lowest gastritis degrees were non-atrophic (46.7%) and atrophic (0.2%). Other gastritis types were respectively erosive gastritis (0.4%), lymphocytic (0.4%), ulcer (0.4%), hemorrhagic (0.4%) and reactive gastritis (1.7%). According to findings, as age increases, so does the prevalence of H. pylori colonization and active inflammation. A significant relationship was reported to be between severity of H. pylori and gastritis. It was, moreover, indicated that moderate and severe gastritis occurred more in moderate and severe colonization of H. pylori (p<0.001). The prevalence of atrophy and metaplasia were 0.2 and 0.1, respectively.Conclusion: H. pylori colonization is followed by severity of gastritis, activity as well as chronic abdominal and intestinal complications. Given the high prevalence of this infection in the developing countries and high risks of its acquisition in childhood, it can impose a higher economic and medical burden on the society.

Association between Helicobacter Pylori Infection in the Gastric Mucosa and Severity of Gastric Inflammation in Children and Teenagers Keywords:

Helicobacter Pylori , Gastritis , Children