BACKGROUND: The purpose was to examine the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in Finnish children and adolescents. METHODS: Blood samples taken from healthy subjects (n = 461) 3-18 years old were studied cross-sectionally for the presence of H. pylori antibodies. Additionally, blood samples drawn in 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1989 from 74 children born in 1977 were tested. Serum IgG-class antibodies to H. pylori were determined by an enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional series the mean antibody levels and the percentage of seropositive children increased with age. The overall seroprevalence was 10.2%. During the follow-up period from 3 to 12 years of age the seropositivity increased from 4.6% to 5.7%. On the basis of the seroconversions between 3 and 12 years of age the annual incidence of H. pylori infection was calculated to be only 0.3%. CONCLUSIONS: In children seropositivity for H. pylori of the IgG class is often a sign of an infection acquired in early childhood. It seems likely that the age-dependent increase in the seropositivity reflects cumulation of a chronic infection.
BACKGROUND: The purpose was to examine the epidemiology of Helicobacter pyloriinfection in Finnish children and adolescents. METHODS: Blood samples taken from healthy subjects (n = 461) 3-18 years old were studied cross-sectionally for the presence of H. pylori antibodies. Additionally, blood samples drawn in 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1989 from 74 children born in 1977 were tested. Serum IgG-class antibodies to H. pylori were determined by an enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: In the cross-sectional series the mean antibody levels and the percentage of seropositive children increased with age. The overall seroprevalence was 10.2%. During the follow-up period from 3 to 12 years of age the seropositivity increased from 4.6% to 5.7%. On the basis of the seroconversions between 3 and 12 years of age the annual incidence of H. pyloriinfection was calculated to be only 0.3%. CONCLUSIONS: In children seropositivity for H. pylori of the IgG class is often a sign of an infection acquired in early childhood. It seems likely that the age-dependent increase in the seropositivity reflects cumulation of a chronic infection.
Authors: M Constanza Camargo; Yasuyuki Goto; Jovanny Zabaleta; Douglas R Morgan; Pelayo Correa; Charles S Rabkin Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2011-10-25 Impact factor: 4.254
Authors: Guillermo I Pérez-Pérez; R Bradley Sack; Raymond Reid; Mathuram Santosham; Janne Croll; Martin J Blaser Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 5.948