Helicobacter pylori infection in Finnish children and adolescents. A serologic cross-sectional and follow-up study.
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.
Ashorn
M
M
Dept. of Clinical Medicine, University of Tampere, Finland.
Mäki
M
M
Hällström
M
M
Uhari
M
M
Akerblom
H K
HK
Viikari
J
J
Miettinen
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G