Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of Campylobacter pylori antibody in a paediatric population and relate this to symptoms, and the presence of gastritis. Three groups were studied. Group I - 51 consecutive symptomatic patients (5-16 years) undergoing upper GI endoscopy. Group II - 51 aged-matched hospital controls with no significant GI symptoms. Group III - 150 well schoolchildren. Specific serum IgG antibodies were measured using a sensitive ELISA technique. Antral biopsies were cultured from all patients in Group I and examined histologically. 20% of patients in Group I had significant titres and in all cases ≥ 1:1,600. C.pylori was present on the gastric mucosa in all of this sub-group and in no other, and histological gastritis was present in all but 2 cases. In contrast only 4% of Group II and 5% of Group III had significant antibody titres and in all cases <1:1,600.
We conclude that a high specific IgG titre to C.pylori indicates active gastritis and that a significant proportion of children with upper GI symptoms have such an association. Unlike adults, few normal children appear to have been exposed to this organism.
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Thomas, J., Eastham, E., Elliott, T. et al. 67 CAMPYLOBACTER PYLORT CASTRITIES IN CHILDREN – A COMMON CAUSE OF SYMTOMS?. Pediatr Res 24, 416 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198809000-00090
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198809000-00090