What are the symptoms of children infected with Helicobacter pylori?

Written by Lian Wen Xi
Pediatrics
Updated on April 20, 2025
00:00
00:00

Children infected with Helicobacter pylori typically show no symptoms initially, but may later develop chronic gastritis and gastrointestinal ulcers. Clinical manifestations mainly include vomiting, nausea, abdominal distension, acid reflux, and abdominal pain, and may even present symptoms such as bloody stools or vomiting blood. If a child is infected with Helicobacter pylori but exhibits mild symptoms, treatment can focus solely on the infection. However, if there are gastrointestinal ulcers or repeated gastrointestinal discomfort, treatment should include antibiotics along with medications that suppress stomach acid production. Treatment duration usually lasts about one to two months, depending on the specific condition of the child.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
45sec home-news-image

How many times a year should Helicobacter pylori be tested?

If Helicobacter pylori tests positive, then it is necessary to undergo standardized eradication treatment. A re-examination is needed one month after cessation of the eradication treatment to confirm whether the eradication was successful or the treatment failed. If the patient tests negative for Helicobacter pylori, then there is no need for repeated testing. Therefore, the frequency of testing for Helicobacter pylori within a year needs to be analyzed based on specific circumstances, using different testing methods and frequencies according to different situations. Patients infected with Helicobacter pylori should eat light, easily digestible foods, avoid overeating, and avoid spicy and irritating foods.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Hui Jie
Gastroenterology
1min 6sec home-news-image

Can Helicobacter pylori cure itself?

Can Helicobacter pylori be self-healing? Helicobacter pylori is very stubborn; once infected, adults who do not undergo formal therapeutic interventions will be afflicted for life, meaning the cure rate is close to zero. Children, whose immune functions are not yet fully developed, may experience multiple exposures on the gastric mucosa and short-term colonization before Helicobacter pylori settles permanently, which could potentially lead to either colonization or loss of the bacteria. White populations have stronger immune resistance than colored populations. Tracking reports indicate that 50% of white children may lose the infection after contracting it, while only 4% of black children might. Generally, the infection rate is higher than the self-healing rate, indicating that Helicobacter pylori infections in adults are generally not self-resolving.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Ya Juan
Gastroenterology
1min 43sec home-news-image

How to eradicate Helicobacter pylori

The spontaneous clearance rate of Helicobacter pylori infection is extremely low, meaning that it is almost impossible to cure itself. If not treated medically, it may lead to a lifelong infection. Currently, the consensus both domestically and internationally on handling Helicobacter pylori is that eradication requires combination therapy with multiple drugs, categorized into triple therapy and quadruple therapy, with a treatment duration of 2 weeks. Triple therapy consists of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) plus two antibiotics. We currently use quadruple therapy, which includes two antibiotics, a gastric mucosal protectant, and a proton pump inhibitor. The choice of these drugs is complex. Common anti-inflammatory drugs include amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin; in cases of bacterial resistance, we recommend using furazolidone or tetracycline. Specific medications should be consulted in detail with a doctor. After the treatment course, we need to assess whether the eradication was successful, with a re-examination one month after stopping the drugs. After the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, the rate of reinfection in adults is very low, but the reinfection rate in children is somewhat higher than in adults. Not everyone infected with Helicobacter pylori needs eradication; it is necessary only for those with ulcers, erosion, atrophy, or related symptoms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
1min 9sec home-news-image

How to treat erosive gastritis without Helicobacter pylori?

Erosive gastritis primarily presents symptoms such as upper abdominal distension, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. Diagnosis can be confirmed through gastroscopy, which reveals erosion of the gastric mucosa. If Helicobacter pylori is negative, treatment for erosive gastritis should involve acid suppression, gastric protection, enhancement of gastric motility, and protection of the gastric mucosa. A treatment period of four to six weeks can generally lead to recovery. Additionally, dietary adjustments are crucial: avoid smoking and alcohol, refrain from drinking strong tea and coffee, and do not consume greasy, rich, spicy, fried, grilled, sweet, or cold foods. Milk, soy milk, glutinous rice, and sweet potatoes should also be avoided, favoring instead a diet that is easy to digest. Simultaneously, it is important to increase physical activity to enhance gastrointestinal motility and avoid staying up late.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
1min 5sec home-news-image

What should I do if I have a Helicobacter pylori infection?

Helicobacter pylori is closely related to the occurrence of chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric cancer, but not everyone infected with Helicobacter pylori will develop chronic gastritis or gastric ulcers. Infections can be diagnosed with a breath test, where values more than twice the normal level, accompanied by symptoms of gastritis, gastric ulcers, stomach distension, stomach pain, and acid reflux, should be considered for antibacterial and stomach-protective treatment. Generally, with standard treatment, 90% of Helicobacter pylori can be eradicated within one to two weeks. However, reinfection is common as it can be found in food and utensils and transmitted through saliva. It is generally advised that children under 14 and individuals with low levels of Helicobacter pylori without obvious stomach inflammation symptoms do not require immediate treatment.