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PEDIATRICS Vol. 107 No. 2 February 2001, pp. 373-380

REVIEW ARTICLE:
Is Helicobacter pylori Infection in Childhood a Risk Factor for Gastric Cancer?

Received Jan 3, 2000; accepted Jun 6, 2000.

Cameron Imrie, Marion Rowland, Billy Bourke, and Brendan Drumm

From the Department of Paediatrics, University College Dublin and The Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin, Ireland.

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Furthermore, the World Health Organization has classified this organism as a carcinogen for gastric cancer. H pylori infection is mainly acquired in childhood. Children with H pylori infection are asymptomatic except for a very small number that develop peptic ulcer disease. However, if H pylori gastritis is associated with gastric cancer, do pediatricians need to screen children for this infection and treat those who are infected? In an attempt to determine the significance of the association between H pylori and gastric cancer, we have reviewed all of the English language literature on this topic. H pylori infection seems to be associated with an increased risk of developing gastric cancer. However, only a small number of infected individuals (~1%) will develop gastric cancer. Furthermore, there are potential cofactors other than H pylori that could be equally important. The effect of the eradication of H pylori alone on the development of gastric cancer is unknown. Based on our knowledge to date, we suggest that it is not indicated to treat all children with H pylori infection because of the risk of developing gastric cancer or to institute a screening and treatment program.

 Key words:  Helicobacter pylori, gastric cancer, children.


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