BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was undertaken to evaluate changes in the seroepidemiological pattern of Helicobacter pylori in a group of Turkish children over a span of 10 years. METHODS: A total of 403 (219+184) serum samples were obtained from a primary school located in the urban part of Ankara in 1990 and 2000. All of the samples were from healthy students aged 7-14 (in 1990, n= 219, 109 females; and in 2000, n= 184, 90 females). RESULTS: All serum samples were assayed for Helicobacter pylori IgG by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall prevalence of Helicobacter pylori antibodies was 78.5% in 1990 and 66.3% in 2000. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was found to be decreasing over a time span of 10 years (p<0.01). While the most susceptible age group to Helicobacter pylori in 1990 was 10 years (89.5%), in 2000 the susceptible age group was 8 years (85.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection seems to have decreased during the last 10 years in Turkey. This change may be attributable to the changes in environmental condition and socioeconomic development that have taken place in the country.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was undertaken to evaluate changes in the seroepidemiological pattern of Helicobacter pylori in a group of Turkish children over a span of 10 years. METHODS: A total of 403 (219+184) serum samples were obtained from a primary school located in the urban part of Ankara in 1990 and 2000. All of the samples were from healthy students aged 7-14 (in 1990, n= 219, 109 females; and in 2000, n= 184, 90 females). RESULTS: All serum samples were assayed for Helicobacter pylori IgG by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall prevalence of Helicobacter pylori antibodies was 78.5% in 1990 and 66.3% in 2000. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was found to be decreasing over a time span of 10 years (p<0.01). While the most susceptible age group to Helicobacter pylori in 1990 was 10 years (89.5%), in 2000 the susceptible age group was 8 years (85.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pyloriinfection seems to have decreased during the last 10 years in Turkey. This change may be attributable to the changes in environmental condition and socioeconomic development that have taken place in the country.