Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is thought to be acquired in childhood. The present study aimed to examine the changing seroepidemiology of H. pylori in children in the same area of Taipei city during 1989-1999, and to try to elucidate the possible transmission route of H. pylori in children by comparing hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence in Taipei during the same decade.
Methods: Sera were collected from the apparently healthy children (965 males and 835 females, aged 0-20 years) from the Chung Cheng District of Taipei city. H. pylori infection status was checked by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: In 1999, the overall prevalence rate of H. pylori infection was 14.8% with no gender difference (P = 0.115). Children aged 1-3 years had the lowest prevalence rate (2.8%). The prevalence rate then increased steadily after 3 years of age. The annual infection rate was 1.25% after 3 years of age and the seroprevalence rate was 21.5% at 15-18 years. In comparison with the previous H. pylori seroepidemiology study performed at the same district of Taipei city one decade ago, there is no significant cohort effect in H. pylori prevalence in Taipei children during the past decade (Odds ratio = 1.13; 95% confidence interval: 0.74-1.72). The epidemiological pattern between H. pylori and HAV was found to be different.
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of H. pylori in children did not change significantly in the past decade. This epidemiological feature is different from HAV. The authors propose that there are other transmission routes of H. pylori than fecal-oral.