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Dec 9, 2013Article Details
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Main Article Content
Effectiveness of sequential v. standard triple therapy for treatment of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection in children in Nairobi, Kenya
Abstract
Objective. To determine the effectiveness of a novel 10-day sequential therapy compared with the standard 10-day triple therapy for treatment of H. pylori infection in children.
Methods. A double-blinded, randomised, controlled trial was conducted. Children under the age of 16 years with recurrent abdominal pain associated with dyspepsia and diagnosed with H. pylori by histology were randomly allocated either to a 10-day sequential treatment regimen or to a 10-day conventional triple therapy. Analysis of the outcome of this study was based on clinical improvement and confirmed H. pylori eradication based on stool H. pylori antigen detection and/or repeat endoscopy.
Results. Of the 71 patients included in the analysis, 45 (63.4%) were given the 10-day conventional treatment while 26 (36.6%) received the 10-day sequential treatment. There was no difference in clinical improvement after treatment in the two therapies. However, there was a significant difference in the eradication of H. pylori between the conventional v. sequential regimens (48.8% v. 84.6%, respectively; p=0.02, odds ratio 0.19).
Conclusion. The sequential treatment had a significantly higher H. pylori eradication rate than the conventional treatment.
