Risks and limits of Helicobacter Kinder

Testing for Helicobacter pylori in children should only be done with a clear medical indication, not as a general screening. Most infected children remain asymptomatic, and treating without symptoms leads to unnecessary antibiotic exposure and potential resistance. Non-invasive tests (stool antigen, urea breath test) are helpful but not perfect; false positives can prompt unnecessary endoscopy. A direct-to-consumer test without physician oversight risks misinterpretation and neglect of comorbidities. Current guidelines (e.g., ESPGHAN) recommend testing only for persistent upper abdominal pain or a positive family history of gastric cancer. Without these criteria, the benefit is unclear.