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 asymp tomatic children (n = 466). Serology is now generally accepted as a va lid noninvasive screening method for the detection of Helicobacter pyl ori infection. Blood samples were taken from 466 apparently healthy ch ildren (ages 2-14 years) who were admitted to our pediatric 1-day clin ic 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 a ge group 8-14 years; p < 0.001). We also found a significant differenc e in the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori positivity between Caucasia n Belgian children and non-Caucasian children of different ethnic back grounds. This relatively high prevalence of positive serology in asymp tomatic older children (13.4%) should be considered in studies on the incidence or causative role of Helicobacter pylori in children with ch ronic abdominal complaints.