H Pylori in Children

In terms of H Pylori, it usuallyproduces abdominal discomfort/pain, but I wouldn't necessarily attribute the severe constipation to it. The best way to test it is to look for it in stool, since it tells you there is a current infection, while the blood test only tells you you've had it at some point, but may not neccesarily have it currently. Most people tolerate the treatment pretty well and the infection, and therefore the abdomonal symptoms, resolve shortly after. I would do the treatment, and see how things go, and if the constipation continues, I would recommend going to a pediatric gastroenterologist; if you have a PPO you can do it on your own, otherwise I would discuss a referral with the pediatrician. I imagine you are already trying the usual stuff for constipation, tons of water, avoiding constipating foods like starches (rice, banana, etc) and giving her lots of fiber, having her drink OJ that has all the pulp, and eating fruit like mango and pineapples, and even maybe adding some fiber that can be dissolved into juices or soups. Good luck.

Is she taking the prevpac? If so, that is a very strong combination of antibiotics. My daughter was diagnosed with H Pylori last January and started the prevpac in February. The antibiotics caused havoc in her body. On the 3rd day of it she was rushed to the ER in the middle of the night because of the antibiotic Biaxin was too powerful for her body to handle. After that experience we decided to stop with the treatment, an endoscopy a couple of months later showed she no longer had H pylori. Prior to that endoscopy we tried Manuka Honey which has been shown to get rid of H pylori and she took that 3 times a day for over a month. Even though she barely took the prevpac it seemed to have damaged her GI tract and she continues to have severe nausea and once in a while pain. For the constipation I would recommend Aloe Vera Juice in pure form.

I will be interested in reading your answers. My 4 year old just had the stool antigen test for H. pylori and we are waiting on the results. Did your daughter ever have sweat that smelled like ammonia? That is what triggered the doc to run this test for us.

My aunt and father both had this, and apparently I had it as a child aswell. I know I have suffered from so called IBS, but handling stress and a cautious diet helped greatly. My aunt & father have had no problems since treatment and no more indigestion/heart burn feeling