Comparison between stool antigen test and urea breath test for diagnosing of Helicobacter pylori infection among Children in Sulaymaniyah City

Abstract

Objectives: Due to increasing incidence of Helicobacter pylori infections among children, it is important to understand which diagnostic test among the noninvasive tests is more accurate, specific, and sensitive. Methodology: Forty-five children who underwent osophagogastroduodenoscopy by the same pediatric gastroenterologist, with Urea Breath Test (UBT) and Stool Antigen Test (SAT); their data were analyzed by retrospective study (2013–2019) to make a comparison between UBT and SAT (Specificity, Sensitivity, and Accuracy) using biopsy finding (histopathological finding) as confirmatory tool for diagnosis. Patients were selected according to their clinical presentations and inclusion criteria in this study are: (pediatric age group, have clinical presentation of H. pylori infection, full information in history, clinical examination, and tests). Patients with incomplete information were excluded. Results: Male (75.56%) more common than female (24.44%), abdominal pain (53.3%) is the major presentation followed by hematemesis (20%), UBT is more influenced by demographic characteristics than other tests, UBT has a statistical significant correlation with result of biopsy, also it is more accurate and more sensitive than SAT, but they share same positive predictive value and same specificity. Conclusions: UBT more preferable than SAT specially in children above 6-year-old.