Moroccan Children With Helicobacter pylori Infection: Demographics, Clinical Features, and Histological Findings

Background: Infesting nearly half of the world's population, Helicobacter pylori is thought to cause peptic ulcers and gastric adenocarcinoma. Several studies have examined the association between H. pylori and socioeconomic, clinical, and histological factors in pediatric populations. Similarly, this study aimed to describe the characteristics of H. pylori infection in Moroccan children. Methods: Patients aged 1-17 years who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy over a period of two years from January 2019 to January 2021 were included in this study. Gastric biopsies from the antrum and corpus of the stomach were collected. Detection of H. pylori infection was confirmed by Giemsa stain. Demographic data and clinical and endoscopic characteristics were collected and histopathological findings with gastritis scoring were recorded according to the Sydney System. Results: In 213 children, 95 (45%) were found to be infected with H. pylori, and the infection rates increased as the children aged. While no significant relationship between the infection of H. pylori and all symptoms was founded, a significant association was found in nodular gastritis (p<0.05), and 98% of the infected children had chronic inflammation, which was active in 22% and atrophic in 47%. The atrophy and activity were absent or mild, and the inflammation was mild to moderate. Conclusion: According to this study, nodular gastritis and nonspecific symptoms were related to H. pylori infection in Moroccan children. In addition, the association between this disease and gastric atrophy in our study needs the monitoring of the mucosa of Moroccan children with gastritis and identifying factors that may contribute to gastric cancer.