Comparison of invasive with noninvasive diagnostic tests of Helicobacter pylori in children

The prevalence rate of Helicobacter pylori in developing country is higher than that in developed country. H. pylori infection one of the common causes of gastritis in adults and children and there is no association between this bacterium and lympoproliferative especially malt lymphoma. The prevalence rate of this infection in children is influenced by their socio-economic status. The aim of our study was to compare the results of invasive tests (endoscopy, gastritis mucosal biopsy histology, urease) with non-invasive tests (serology, stool Ag).Methods and Materials: During the study 100 one-year-old children with acute stomach pain who referred to Tabriz children hospital from north-east of the country were examined by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, urease serology and stool Ag test. In histologic examination of sample %60 of the patients were found HP positive that urease test with %58 sensitivity and %90 specificity, serology with %55 sensitivity and %87 specificity, stool antigen with %54.8 sensitivity and %79.4 specificity. The results showed serology and stool Ag test low sensitivity and specificity than Gold standard histology. But, these tests can be evaluated potentially as an indicator of H.P status during diagnosis and treatment and eradication of H. pylori.