title: Serum anti-Helicobacter pylori IgA and IgG antibodies in asymptomatic children in Serbia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and the distribution of anti-H.pylori IgA and IgG antibodies in asymptomatic children aged between 7 and 18 y. We studied the serum samples of 283 children using the commercial ELISA test for the detection of anti-H. pylori IgA and IgG antibodies. The overall prevalence of anti-H. pylori antibodies was 36.4%. The seroprevalence was 35%, 28.3%, 37.5%, and 42.2% for the ages of 7, 10, 14 and 18 y, respectively. Serum IgG antibodies alone were detected in 88.3%, IgA alone in 4.9%, and both IgA and IgG antibodies were detected in 6.8% of samples. The mean levels of IgG antibodies to H. pylori increased with age. We concluded that the prevalence of H. pylori antibodies in Serbian children was high (36.4%), ranging from 35% to 42.2%. The detection of IgG antibodies is useful for the determination of seroprevalence in asymptomatic children.
authors: Institute for Public Health, University of Nis, dr Zorana Djindjica 81, Nis, Serbia.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Dinić
authors: Gordana
authors: G
authors: Tasić
authors: Dobrila
authors: D
authors: Stanković-Dordević
authors: Ljiljana
authors: L
authors: Otasević
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Tasić
authors: Aleksandar
authors: A
authors: Karanikolic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G