Published online Jun 15, 2025. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v17.i6.103632
Revised: March 19, 2025
Accepted: March 20, 2025
Published online: June 15, 2025
Processing time: 121 Days and 5.7 Hours
This retrospective study aimed to define associations between Helicobacter pylori
To define associations between H. pylori in childhood and risk factors for gastric cancer with special emphasis on the role of family history of cancer.
Details of 600 children who were subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopies at our institution are analyzed. Children were classified into positive and negative groups for H. pylori infection based on biopsy and rapid urease tests. The oc
In our study, among the overall population, 330 children tested positive for H. pylori, which constituted 55% of the study population. The group denoting H. pylori positivity was found to have strikingly higher frequencies of chronic superficial gastritis (78.8% vs 5.9%), gastric atrophy (39.4% vs 7%), and intestinal metaplasia (0.9% vs 0%), as compared to the H. pylori-negative group. It is interesting to observe that there were a few but statistically significant cases of H. pylori-positive children having a family history of gastric cancer (1.2%), whereas no such cases were reported in children who were H. pylori-negative.
Our study finds that H. pylori infection in childhood is associated with an increased risk of precancerous gastric conditions and that family history might provide an additional risk. These insights recommend the necessity of early H. pylori detection and intervention and management strategies in childhood, especially in those families with histories of gastric cancer.
Core Tip: Our investigation exposes a potent correlation: Children afflicted with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) exhibit an augmented vulnerability to gastric cancer, notably when there's a genetic lineage of the ailment. This underscores the pressing requirement for preemptive diagnostics and intervention within the juvenile demographic to avert potential gastric malignancies. By highlighting the pivotal role of heredity in pediatric gastric health, our study paves the way for tailored preventative measures, enhancing clinical practices in the eradication of H. pylori and fortifying the frontline against gastric cancer in youth. This insight is crucial for the surgical community, potentially revolutionizing how we approach early cancer detection and prevention.