[Helicobacter pylori infection as a cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children].

Several reports indicate that Helicobacter pylori plays a role in recurrent abdominal pain in children and adolescents. The aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of H. pylori among Verona children with and without recurrent abdominal pain. 309 patients were tested for the presence of anti-H. pylori IgG in a blood sample. Among 43 children with recurrent abdominal pain, the prevalence of H. pylori infection was 25.58%, while the prevalence of H. pylori infection in children without abdominal symptoms was 4.88%. Sensitivity and specificity of serology were respectively 81.8% and 87.5%. We conclude that endoscopic examination cannot be replaced by serological test.