Background: The role of Helicobacter pylori (HP) as a cause of recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) and gastrointestinal symptoms is controversial and there still remains a big debate whether to test and treat or not.
Aim: To investigate the correlation between HP infection and RAP as well as other GI symptoms. Methods: We conducted a case control study at the Jeddah Clinic Hospital from January 2009 to December 2010. It included 244 cases (group I) aged 2-16 years with RAP after exclusion of any organic disease. Cases receiving antibiotics, bismuth, H2 antagonists or proton pump inhibitors during last 45 days were excluded. 122 age and gender matched asymptomatic children (group II) were enrolled as controls. Both groups were tested for Helicobacter pylori infection using stool antigen and/ or urea breath test.
Results: The mean age of cases was 7.76 ± 3.38 years. 48% of cases were males. There was no significant statistical difference between both groups regarding age and sex distribution, nationality and body weight (BW). 42.6% cases were positive for H. pylori infection in group I and 45% in group II. Comparison between HP positive cases and HP negative cases in group I revealed a statistically significant difference in incidence of vomiting, epigastric pain, history of infected family member and iron deficiency anemia (p=0.001, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.025 respectively).
Conclusion: HP infection is documented in more than 40% of both symptomatic and asymptomatic children. There is no association between RAP and HP.