Low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in young children in the Netherlands

Aim of the study To investigate the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in young children from the general population in The Netherlands. Methods Determination of IgG antibodies against H. pylori, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique [cutoff 0.32 Absorption Index (Al)], in serum from 1258 children who were 2-4 years of age. The serum was obtained from a serum bank of 6127 children who attended the community child healthcare centers in the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland. Results In general, we found a seroprevalence of 1.2% of H. pylori infection, with a significant difference between the children with parents who were both Dutch (0.5%), and the children with at least one non-Dutch parent (2.6%) (P<0.001). Conclusions The prevalence of H. pylori infection in young infants in the general population in The Netherlands is low. Children with at least one non-Dutch parent form a risk group, however, for H. pylori infection in The Netherlands. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 19:213-216 (C) 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.