H. pylori infection and antral nodular gastritis in children

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of antral nodularity and establish its association with Helicobacter pylori infection in children. Methods: A total of 358 children (mean age: 10.35±3.15 years, M/F:0.95) who had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were evaluated retrospectively in terms of clinical, endoscopic and histological findings. The association between antral nodularity and H. pylori infection was determined. Results: Antral nodularity was observed in 158 (44.1%) patients. H. pylori was detected in 138 (83.4%) of those patients with antral nodularity. Infected children with H. pylori compared to non-infected group were older (p= 0.0001). The antral nodularity was observed significantly higher in H. pylori-positive patients than in H. pylori-negative cases (p=0.0001). The sensitivity was 52%, specificity 78%, positive predictive value 87% and negative predictive value was 37%. Lymphoid follicle and aggregates formation was observed higher in patients with antral nodularity than patients without (p=0.0001 and p=0.017, respectively). Statistically significant difference was observed between antral nodularity and the grades of H.pylori density (p=0.0001). Conclusions: Children with antral nodularity were more likely to have H. pylori gastritis compared to children without. The parameters associated significantly with antral nodularity were older age, H. pylori infection and H. pylori density