RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION AND UPPER GASTRO-INTESTINAL BLEEDING IN NORTHERN IRAN CHILDREN

Background: There are controversies regarding relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and upper gastro-intestinal bleeding (UGIB) in children. The goal of this study was to assess the relationship between H. pylori infection and UGIB in Northern Iranian children. Material and method: One hundred children who had UGIB indicated for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 100 children without UGIBwho were candidate for upper endoscopy because of chronic abdominal pain considered as their controls. After stabling vital sign, nasogastric tube inserted and washing was done then within 24 hours of admission, endoscopy conducted for all children in the case group (under general anesthesia). Upper endoscopy was done for all participants by a children gastroenterologist. A single pathologist reviewed all specimens. Results: Mean age of cases was 6.2±3.2 years and mean age of controls was 7.1±2.9 years respectively. There was no relationship between H. pylori and UGIB .Erosion in fondus was significantly higher in cases (0.001) and erythema in antrum was significantly higher in controls( p<0.001). Inactive gastritis was significantly higher in H .pylori negative cases (0.006) while moderate gastritis was present in all H .pylori positive ones(0.009). Conclusion: We found no relationship between H. pylori infection and UGIB in children. More studies are needed. Key words: H pylori, children, Gastro intestinal bleeding