Helicobacter pylori Infection in Finnish Children and Adolescents A Serologic Cross-Sectional and Follow-up Study

M. Ashorn Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere; Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu; The Children's Hospital, II Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki; Dept. of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

M. Mäki Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere; Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu; The Children's Hospital, II Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki; Dept. of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

M. Hällström Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere; Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu; The Children's Hospital, II Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki; Dept. of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

M. Uhari Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere; Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu; The Children's Hospital, II Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki; Dept. of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

H. K. Åkerblom Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere; Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu; The Children's Hospital, II Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki; Dept. of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

J. Viikari Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Dept. of Clinical Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere; Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu; The Children's Hospital, II Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki; Dept. of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

A. Miettinen Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu; The Children's Hospital, II Dept. of Pediatrics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki; Dept. of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

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Abstract

Background: The purpose was to examine the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection in Finnish children and adolescents.

Methods: Blood samples taken from healthy subjects (n = 461) 3–18 years old were studied cross-sectionally for the presence of H. pylori antibodies. Additionally, blood samples drawn in 1980, 1983, 1986, and 1989 from 74 children born in 1977 were tested. Serum IgG-class antibodies to H. pylori were determined by an enzyme immunoassay.

Results: In the cross-sectional series the mean antibody levels and the percentage of seropositive children increased with age. The overall seroprevalence was 10.2%. During the follow-up period from 3 to 12 years of age the seropositivity increased from 4.6% to 5.7%. On the basis of the seroconversions between 3 and 12 years of age the annual incidence of H. pylori infection was calculated to be only 0.3%.

Conclusions: In children seropositivity for H. pylori of the IgG class is often a sign of an infection acquired in early childhood. It seems likely that the age-dependent increase in the seropositivity reflects cumulation of a chronic infertion.

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Helicobacter pylori Infection in Finnish Children and Adolescents A Serologic Cross-Sectional and Follow-up Study

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Helicobacter pylori Infection in Finnish Children and Adolescents A Serologic Cross-Sectional and Follow-up Study

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