Abstract

GAMEZ ESCALONA, Martha M.; MULET PEREZ, Agustín M.; MIRANDA MOLES, Zulma  and  MULET GAMEZ, Agustín M.. Chronic antral gastritis induced by Helicobacter pylori in children . Rev Cubana Pediatr [online]. 2008, vol.80, n.1. ISSN 0034-7531.

INTRODUCTION. The objective of this investigation is to know the frequency of infection caused by Helicobacter pylori in children with chronic antral gastritis, to estimate the differences in the histological behavior of this entity in children with infection due to Helicobacter pylori and without it, and to identify the possible relation existing between age and the histgological characteristics of chronic antral gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori. METHODS. All the gastric biopsies processed in the Provincial Pediatric Hospital of Holguin from January 1991 to December 2004 were included in the study group. A sample of 192 children with histological diagnosis of chronic antral gastritis was determined. The biopsies were reevaluated to detect Helicobacter pylori infection and its colonization density together with the activity and severity of gastritis lesions. RESULTS. Helicobacter pylori infection was found in 67.7 % of the patients. The active forms predominated in the cases with infection due to Helicobacter pylori (116/130) compared with those without infection (5/62). A statistically significant relation (p < 0,001) was observed between the severity of the lesions and the Helicobacter pylori infection. The degree of activity did not have any statistical relation to the colonization density. However, in the abundant forms of colonization due to Helicobacter pylori, the severe state (29/41) was the greatest subgroup, whereas in the scarce, the mild form (34/66) was the largest. A significant association (p < 0.01) was found between the colonization density and the severity of the lesions of chronic antral gastritis. The age group 11-15 was the most affected (81/130), and a marked association between age and the severity of the lesions was observed (0,184886). CONCLUSIONS. Helicobacter pylori infection is more frequent in chronic antral gastritis in children. The presence of activity and the higher severity of the lesions are associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. The higher the density of colonization, the more severe the lesions. The probability of severe lesions due to chronic antral gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori increases with age.

Keywords : Chronic antral gastritis; Helicobacter pylori; childhood.

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