Familial Helicobacter pylori infections-self-made observations

Helicobacter pylori (H.p.) infection plays a nonquestionable role in the ethiopathogenesis of chronic inflammation of the mucosa membrane of the upper alimentary tract. The literature emphasizes familial bacteria carrier state, which may result in the problems with achieving complete eradication of H.p. The study was carried out on families of 26 children referred to gastrologist because of chronic inflammations of gastric and duodenal mucous membrane with coincident H.p. infection. Among 82 family members of the children with H.p. infections 23 subjects reported gastric disturbances. The presence of anti-H.p. antibodies was detected in 47 patients. Endoscopy revealed the evidence of chronic gastric and/or duodenal mucosa inflammation in 11 out of 12 examined patients. The results of investigations performed on family members of the children with chronic gastritis and duodenitis indicate the necessity of accurate evaluation of the morphological condition of the mucous membrane of the upper alimentary tract in the so-called asymptomatic carriers of H.p. infections. The authors of the study suggest that family members with detected histologic changes should undergo treatment, even in the absence of subjective clinical symptoms, which may positively influence the decrease in the number of recurrences in children as well as inhibit the progression of inflammatory changes in H.p. carriers.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori infection, Helicobacter pylori