ENDOSCOPIC NODULAR GASTRITIS: AN INDICATOR OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN CHILDREN

Objective: To investigate the importance of endoscopic nodular gastritis associated With Helicobacter pylori infection in children. Methods: In this prospective study, 220 consecutive patients (age range 2 to 15 years, mean age 9. 02 ±3 .3 ), 118 of them males (53. 6%) underwent upper endoscopy during evaluation of chronic abdominal pain. The appearance of nodular gastritis was observed during endoscopy by the author. Culture, rapid urease test and staining were carried out on gastric mucosal biopsies. With histological examination the presence of Helicobacter pylori and the nature of inflammation was assessed. Results: H. pylori infection was identified in 110 (50%) patients. Endoscopic nodular gastritis was seen in 100 patients ( 45.5% ), and was significantly associated with active chronic gastritis. Nodularity in the stomach showed a sensitivity of72. 7% and a specificity of81.8% and a ppv of 80% for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection and was observed in 80 (72. 7% of) H. pylori positive cases. Antral nodularity was associated with increasing risk of infection with H. pylori (OR=12, 95% CI: 6.3-22.7). Conclusion: Endoscopic findings of antral nodularity in children may suggest the presence of H. pylori infection.