Helicobacter pylori antibodies in sera of children suffering from chronic abdominal pain.

107 pediatric patients aged 9 to 18 with persistent gastric complaints were examined serologically and bacteriologically for Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter was identified in 48 (45%) of individuals. 51 (48%) of children were found to be seropositive when H. pylori antibodies were detected by the ELISA; 56 (52%) when the passive haemagglutination test was used, and 41 (38%) in the latex agglutination test. 25% of culture-negative patients were found to be seropositive. The percentage of raised H. pylori antibody titres in the control (healthy subjects) varied from 20 to 27%, depending on the method applied.