Helicobacter pylori
The bacteria H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori) usually do not cause problems in childhood. However, if left untreated, the
Bacteria can lead to digestive problems, illnesses, including gastritis (the irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the
Stomach) ulcers (wounds characterized by the form in the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine
called the duodenum) and even stomach cancer later in life.
These bacteria are worldwide, but especially in developing countries where up to 10% of children and 80% of adults
usually without symptoms - in the lab can have evidence of H. pylori infection.
Signs and symptoms
Anyone can have a H. pylori infection without knowing it, as most H. pylori infections "silent" and produce no
Symptoms. If the bacteria do cause symptoms, they are usually either symptoms of gastritis or gastric ulcers.
In children, the symptoms of gastritis may include nausea, vomiting, and frequent complaints of abdominal pain. However,
These symptoms are seen in many childhood diseases.
H. pylori, which are used as Campylobacter pylori, can also cause stomach ulcers (commonly known as stomach ulcers).
In older children and adults, the most common symptom of peptic ulcer is a gnawing or burning pain in the abdomen,
normally in the range below the ribs and above the umbilicus. This pain is often worse on an empty stomach, thus improving
Once the person eats, food, drinks, milk or antacids taking medicine.
Children who may have stomach ulcers ulcers that bleed, causing hematemesis (vomiting blood or vomit that looks
Coffee grounds) or melena (stool is black, bloody, or looks like tar). Younger children with peptic ulcer disease may
no symptoms so clearly, so that their disease may be more difficult to diagnose.
Contagiousness
Scientists suspect that H. pylori infection may be contagious because the infection seems in families and more
common where people live in crowded or unsanitary conditions. Although research suggests that infection of passed
Person to person, exactly how this happens is not really known.
Diagnosis
The doctor can make the diagnosis of H. pylori infection by many different types of tests. Your doctor may:
Look at the stomach lining directly. This is carried out under sedation and involves the insertion of an endoscope - a small
Tube with a small camera on the end - in the throat and into the stomach and duodenum. The physician can then
Sampling of the lining bacteria tested in the laboratory for microscopic signs of infection and for H. pylori.
Blood tests, which can detect the presence of H. pylori antibodies. Blood tests are easy to perform, although a
positive test is on the effect of H. pylori in the past and no active infection.
do breath tests, the carbon down by H. pylori after the patient drinks a solution can detect broken. Breath tests are
time consuming, and no information about the severity of the infection. This type of test can be difficult to perform
in young children.
do stool samples to detect the presence of H. pylori in stool proteins. As breath testing, stool tests
the presence of H. pylori but give no information about the severity of the infection.
Treatment
Doctors treat H. pylori infections with antibiotics. Because a single antibiotic can not kill the bacteria, your child
is usually given a combination of antibiotics. In general, the physician will also be suppressed antacids or acid
Drugs to neutralize or block production of stomach acid.
If your child symptoms of bleeding from the stomach or small intestine, these symptoms will be treated in a hospital.
Since H. pylori infection can be cured with antibiotics, is the main treatment at home with your child give a
prescribed antibiotic medicine on schedule, as long as the doctor directed.
One way to help soothe the stomach pain is by following a regular meal schedule. This means planning meals so that your
Child's stomach does not remain empty for long periods of time. Eating five or six smaller meals per day to be the best, and your
Child should take some time to rest after each meal.
It is also important to prevent your child aspirin, aspirin-containing products, ibuprofen or anti-inflammatory
Drugs because they can irritate the stomach or cause stomach bleeding.
By prolonged antibiotic therapy, H. pylori gastritis and peptic ulcer (duodenal ulcers in particular, a
Part of the small intestine) can often be cured.
Prevention
At the moment there is no vaccine against H. pylori. And because transmission is not clearly understood, prevention guidelines
are not available. However, it is always important to ensure that you and your family:
Wash your hands thoroughly.
Food that is prepared properly.
Drink water from a safe source.
When to call the doctor
Call your doctor immediately if your child has any of these symptoms:
severe abdominal pain
Vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds
Stool, bloody, black, or looks like tar
persistent gnawing or burning pain in the area below the ribs that improves after eating, drinking milk, or
Antacids
However, it is important to remember children can get abdominal pain for many reasons - such as digestive disorders, viruses, power and
Concerns and appendicitis. Most abdominal pain is not caused by H. pylori bacteria.