[Helicobacter pylori infection in children].

Knowledge about Helicobacter pylori infection in children continues to advance. While its prevalence appears to be falling in developed countries, it remains a major problem in developing nations. Its transmission pathway remains highly controversial. It has not yet been definitively elucidated, although the oral-oral route seems most probable. Infection is most often intrafamilial. Risk factors for infection are associated with low socioeconomic level, including overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, sharing beds in childhood, low maternal educational level. Infection in children differs from that in adults in three respects: symptoms, endoscopic appearance of the gastric mucosa, and histologic appearance of lesions. No study has established a clear association between recurrent abdominal pain and H. pylori infection. Nonetheless, in proven infections, recurrent abdominal pain is the most common marker. More recently, an association has been reported between H. pylori infection and iron deficiency anemia. The endoscopic aspect most suggestive of H. pylori infection in children is micronodular gastritis, but it is not specific to H. pylori infection. In children as in adults, H. pylori infection is always associated with histologic gastritis. Many questions about H. pylori remain unanswered, and numerous studies are still needed.