The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori-positive serology in asymptomatic children.
Epidemiologic data are presented about the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori positivity as determined by serology in a large series of asymptomatic children (n = 466). Serology is now generally accepted as a valid noninvasive screening method for the detection of Helicobacter pylori infection. Blood samples were taken from 466 apparently healthy children (ages 2-14 years) who were admitted to our pediatric 1-day clinic for elective surgery. The children originated from different ethnic backgrounds. All were born in Belgium and have been living there ever since. Thirty-four (7.3%) had positive titers for Helicobacter pylori. There was a significant increase in the number of positive patients with advancing age (5.4% in the age group 2-8 years and 13.4% in the age group 8-14 years; p < 0.001). We also found a significant difference in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori positivity between Caucasian Belgian children and non-Caucasian children of different ethnic backgrounds. This relatively high prevalence of positive serology in asymptomatic older children (13.4%) should be considered in studies on the incidence or causative role of Helicobacter pylori in children with chronic abdominal complaints.
Blecker
U
U
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Academic Children's Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Hauser
B
B
Lanciers
S
S
Peeters
S
S
Suys
B
B
Vandenplas
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G