Current controversies associated with Helicobacter Pylori infection in the pediatric population

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is a human bacterial gastric pathogen, fulfilling each of Koch's postulates for causal inference for ulceration in children and adults. In addition many reports purport to show that the organism causes a variety of extra-intestinal manifestations in children. This review of the English language literature provides evidence that H. pylori is likely a cause of unexplained iron deficiency (sideropenic) anemia in children, even in the absence of gastrointestinal bleeding. Much stronger evidence is required however, before H. pylori infection can be considered as an etiologic agent in recurrent abdominal pain of childhood, unexplained short stature, protracted diarrhea in pre-schoolers and sudden infant death syndrome.