Symptomatic infantile helicobacter pylori gastritis infection in indigenous african infants: a case series

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori gastritis infection rate increases with age. Higher rates have however been reported among young people in the developing countries of the world. The infection however has rarely been  reported in infants, especially in Africa. This case series describes three cases of Helicobacter pylori gastritis  infection as diagnosed in three infants. The goal is to raise the suspicion index of medical  practitioners about the possibility of this this infection among infants who  present with suggestive  symptoms. On three separate occasions in 2012 and 2013, three ill, indigenous, black African female  infants aged 4, 6 and 7 months,  were brought to hospital with symptoms ranging from fever, refusal to feed, diarrhoea, restlessness, vomiting and irritability. In each case, systemic examination  findings were unremarkable. After several laboratory investigations, each infant was found to have Helicobacter pylori infection following positive blood antibody  (using Tell Me Fast H. Pylori antibody serum and Plasma test manufactured by Biocan Diagnostics Canada) and fecal HpSA ImmunoCardSTAT antigen tests. Repeat  stool antigen test was negative in each case after  completion of the recommended triple therapy. Helicobacter pylori infection has been rarely reported among infants. This case series highlights the need for health care providers to have a high index of suspicion so that infants with suggestive symptoms, especially  in settings with high Helicobacter pylori colonization prevalence can be evaluated for Helicobacter pylori gastritis infection.

Key words: Infantile, helicobacter pylori, gastritis, infection