Helicobacter pylori is a common bacteria that causes a form of stomach inflammation called chronic gastritis, as well as peptic ulcers. While many children have H. pylori in their bodies, it does not typically cause symptoms until later in life. However, children can develop gastritis and ulcers. Potential treatments for these disorders in children include antibiotics and antacids.
H. Pylori Basics
People throughout the world commonly develop H. pylori infections, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's Medline Plus. Individuals who live in unsanitary or crowded environments generally have higher infection risks. The bacteria is transmitted by person-to-person contact, and in most cases, infection occurs during childhood. The only place in your body where the bacteria can survive is your stomach. In many cases, individuals with H. pylori do not experience any adverse effects and do not develop either ulcers or gastritis.
Symptoms
The Nemours Foundation lists symptoms of H. pylori-related gastritis in children that include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Be aware that these symptoms resemble those found in a host of other common ailments. Older children with peptic ulcers may have symptoms similar to those found in adults, including burning abdominal pain that occurs in the region above your child's navel and below his ribs. If your child's ulcer bleeds, he may develop additional symptoms, including vomit that contains blood or resembles coffee grounds and bloody, black stool or stool that has a tar-like appearance. Younger children with peptic ulcers may have symptoms that are ill-defined or hard to diagnose. Call your child's doctor if you suspect an infection.
Diagnosis
Your child's doctor may use any one of several approaches to diagnose the presence of H. pylori, the Nemours Foundation reports. These options include blood tests, stool tests and direct observation of your child's stomach lining with small camera mounted on a flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope. Your child's doctor may also check for telltale signs on her breath after giving her a solution that triggers activity in H. pylori. Be aware that blood tests cannot differentiate between active and past H. pylori infections. Stool tests and breath tests can detect active infections but cannot reveal an infection's severity.
Treatment
Doctors commonly use antibiotics to control and eliminate H. pylori infections, the Nemours Foundation notes. In many cases, a single antibiotic cannot provide effective treatment; as a result, your child's doctor will likely employ a combination of these medications. To achieve the desired results, your child may need to take these medications for an extended period of time. He will also probably receive either acid suppressant medications or antacids that block or neutralize stomach acid production. Hospitalization is standard in cases that involve bleeding.
Considerations
You can help ease the pain of an H. pylori infection by providing your child with five or six small meals at regular intervals throughout the day, the Nemours Foundation explains. This will help prevent an empty stomach, which can worsen pain symptoms. During an infection, do not give your child medications that can worsen her symptoms, such as aspirin, anti-inflammatories or ibuprofen.
