Helicobacter pylori Reinfection in Children after Eradication

Ko, Jae Sung; Choe, Yon Ho; Seo, Jeong Kee

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Serum H. pylori IgG test and endoscopic antral biopsy were performed after a I to 2 year follow-up (mean 18 months) to determine the reinfection rate cf Helicobacter pylori in pediatric patients previously cured of H. pylori.
METHODS
26 children mean age 13 years, range 4 to 17) with positive H. pylori by serology, urease testing, histo]ogy and culture were treated with denol for 4 weeks and amoxicillin for 2 weeks, or amoxicillin, metronidazole and deno] for 2 weeks. A repeated investigation was performed one to two years (mean 18 months1 after H. pylori eradication.
RESULTS
Follow-up enoscopic biopsy was performc:d in 18 patients, and eight (44.4/c) of them revealed positive H. pylori by urease test (CLO test),md Giemsa staining. Serum H. pylori IgG tests were positive in twenty of 24 patients before treatment and follow up tests after eradication were positive in seven of 20 (35Fo). The sensitivity and specificity of the serum IgG test in H.pylori reinfection was 62.5% and 80%.
CONCLUSIONS
Reinfection was found in eight of eighteen (44.4%) who underwent follow-up (mean 18 montk) endoscopic biopsy. It seemed that the serum IgG test was not always a valid indicator, and it could not make antral biopsies unnecessary in investigating the reinfection of H. pylori.