title: Prevalence of Chlamydial antibodies in children.
abstract: Humoral antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis was determined in 820 infants and children. Of 120 newborns, 63 (52.5%) had indirect immunofluorescence titers of 1:8 or more to C trachomatis (L-2 strain) in the cord blood. Among the 700 infants and children, a progressive increase in seropositivity was observed: 5% for 1- to 2-years-olds, 25% for 3- to 6-year-olds, and 43% for 7- to 15-year-olds. Seropositivity rates were not related to sex or race; however, significantly higher titers were observed in female compared with male subjects and in blacks compared with whites. These data suggest that C trachomatis infection occurs commonly in children. The nature of the illness, if any, preceding seroconversion is unknown and needs to be elucidated.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000906:Antibodies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies