Ankouane, F University of Yaounde 1 - Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences - Department of internal medicine and specialties, Cameroon , Ankouane, F Centre Medical la Cathédrale, Cameroon , Ngatcha, G Centre Medical la Cathédrale, Cameroon , Tagni-Sartre, M Centre Médical la Cathédrale, Cameroun , Biwolé Sida, M University of Yaounde 1 - Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences - Department of internal medicine and specialties, Cameroon , Ndjitoyap Ndam, EC University of Yaounde I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical sciences - Department of internal medicine and specialties, Cameroon

Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Peptic Ulcer Disease in Children and Adolescents from the Age Range of 6 to 18 Years Old in Yaounde (Cameroon)

20378

BACKGROUND: A high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is observed in the pediatric age in developing countries. Thus, in these countries with a high prevalence of H pylori infection, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is still common in the pediatric age. This study aimed to describe the prevalence, clinical manifestations and complications of PUD in the pediatric age in Cameroon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a 9-year retrospective study. Data of children and adolescents admitted to the “Centre Médical la Cathédrale” of Yaounde, for upper GI tract endoscopy between January 2006 and December 2014 were reviewed. A group of 115 patients with PUD (84 boys[73.0%], 31 girls [27.0%]; 24 children [20.9%], 91 adolescents [79.1%]; mean age 14.7 ± 3.0 years) were compared with a control group of 99 patients without ulcer (49 boys [49.5%], 50 girls [50.5%]; 35 children [35.4%], 64 Adolescents [64.6%]; mean age 14.1 ± 3.4 years). H pylori was diagnosed when the rapid urease test and histology were both positive. RESULTS: PUD was found in 33.1% (115/347) of patients. The overall prevalence of H pylori was 68.3%. Peptic ulcers were mostly duodenal ulcers (75.7%) and Helicobacter pyloripositive ulcers (77.4%). The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in gastric ulcer and in duodenal ulcer was 61.9% and 79.3%, respectively. H pylori was more frequent in patients with PUD than in control patients (77.4% vs. 52.4%; p=0.0001). H pylori was more frequently detected in girls than in boys (90.3% vs. 72.6%; p= 0.07), in adolescents than in children (78.0% vs. 75.0%, p= 0.75). Most of patients were admitted due to abdominal pain (80.9%). There was no significant association between abdominal pain and Helicobacter pylori infection (p= 0.99). Peptic ulcer hemorrhage accounted for 20% of PUD and was mostly duodenal ulcer in children. Stenosis complicated 13% of PUD and this was more frequent in male adolescents. CONCLUSION: PUD is common in the pediatric age in Cameroon. H pylori-related PUD is the most frequent variety and is more common among boys and in the duodenum. Measures to improve the hygienic and the social conditions are necessary to protect children against H pylori infection.

1

Helicobacter pylori , Peptic ulcer disease , Children , Adolescent , Cameroon

Health Sciences an‎d Diseases

6