THE PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IGG ANTIBODIES IN CHILDREN WITHAND WITHOUT RECURRENT ABDOMINAL-PAIN

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) IgG antibodies was analysed in a group of 142 asymptomatic children (group A) and in 31 pediatric patients (group B) with recurrent abdominal pain. HP Ige antibodies w ere measured by a commercially available fluoroscence-enzyme immune-as say test (Heloritest Igc, Fa Eurospital). In asymptomatic children the prevalence of HP IgG antibodies increased significantly with age from 17% with 6 years to more then 40% with 14 years. A higher prevalance of HP IgG antibodies was found in children living in more crowded hous ing conditions. Comparing the number of HP IgG positiv children in gro up B (58%) to a matched population from group A (35%) no statistically different prevalence rates were found. Thus HP IgG antibodies are fou nd in similar frequencies, in both, symptomatic and asymptomatic child ren. Therefore the presence of HP-IgG antibodies does not necessarily indicate that the HP infection is the cause for the recurrent abdomina l pain in these children.