FEATURES OF THE COURSE OF CHRONIC GASTRODUODENITIS ASSOCIATED WITH HELICOBACTER PYLORI IN SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of anamnestic, clinical, laboratory, and comorbidity index indicators in 106 children aged 7 to 16 years with a confirmed diagnosis of chronic gastroduodenitis (CGD), examined at the Department of Gastroenterology and the consultative diagnostic clinic of the Republican Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Pediatrics. Of these, 76 children (71.6%) were confirmed to have Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-associated CGD (main group), and 30 children (28.3%) had CGD without Hp (control group). Extra-gastric manifestations associated with Hp persistence were detected in 33 children (43.4%), while exogastric conditions developing outside the gastrointestinal tract but associated with Hp were found in 38 children (50.0%). Children with Hp-associated CGD showed significantly more frequent allergic and gastrointestinal disease in relatives, lower anthropometric z-scores indicating protein-energy deficiency, and a substantially higher comorbidity burden compared with the control group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that Hp plays a specific trigger role in the development of gastric and extra-gastric pathology in school-age children and should be taken into account when planning diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this patient group.