title: Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Polish children and adults depending on socioeconomic status and living conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the causes of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer and MALT-lymphoma. The frequency of H. pylori infection is different in various regions of the world and dependent on age, socioeconomic and hygiene status. The objective of this study was to assess seroprevalence and the associated socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics influencing H. pylori infection in children and adults in Polish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  In multicenter epidemiological studies, H. pylori infection occurrence was assessed in Poland in the years 2002 and 2003. The seroprevalence of H. pylori infection diagnosis was based on IgG anti-H. pylori antibodies concentration above 24 UI/ml, which was measured using ELISA test. The study included 6565 subjects: 3307 adults (50.37%) and 3258 children (49.63%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive result was observed in 3827 subjects (58.29%), i.e. 1043 children (32.01%) and 2784 adults (84.19%). H. pylori infection prevalence was greater in children of poor economic status, who were born in a rural area, lived in crowded houses with no running tap water and with toilet outside the house, and who did not observe hygiene rules. In adults, the factors predisposing to higher probability of being H. pylori infected included: being born in a rural area, having low family income and elementary education, smoking tobacco, drinking high proof alcohols as well as not observing of hygiene rules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement of socioeconomic status, sanitary and hygienic conditions and the education of the society might decrease H. pylori infection prevalence in children and in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, District Hospital in Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Wiktor
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Laszewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Franciszek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Iwańczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland. Electronic address: barbara.iwanczak@umed.wroc.pl.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iwańczak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D012924:Social Conditions; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adults; Children; Epidemiology; Helicobacter pylori; Risk factors; Seroprevalence