HELICOBACTER-PYLORI SEROLOGY IN CHILDHOOD

Serology is now generally accepted as a valid noninvasive screening me thod for the detection of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, We deter mined the frequency of serum Hp IgG antibodies in 59 children with dys peptic complaints and 48 age-matched controls by ELISA. Positive Hp an tibodies were found in 52.5 percent of patients and 41.7 percent of co ntrols. The difference was not statistically significant. The percenta ge of positivity increased with age for both patients (50% In 5-9, 51. 7% in 10-14 and 72.7% in 15-17 year age-groups) and controls (36.8% in 5-9, 50% in 10-14, 68.4% in 15-17 year age-groups). These results sug gest that Hp infection has a relatively high prevalence among children in our region, and increase with age, A large proportion of asymptoma tic children also demonstrate signs of past or present exposure.