The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori IgG antibodies in children with and 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 were measured by a commercially available fluoroscence-enzyme immune-assay 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 housing conditions. Comparing the number of HP IgG positiv children in group B (58%) to a matched population from group A (35%) no statistically different prevalence rates were found. Thus HP IgG antibodies are found in similar frequencies, in both, symptomatic and asymptomatic children. Therefore the presence of HP-IgG antibodies does not necessarily indicate that the HP infection is the cause for the recurrent abdominal pain in these children.