ANALYSIS OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTIONPREVALENCE IN CHILDREN IN THECONTEMPORARY PERIOD

Aim. Study of prevalence of Helicobacter
pylori infection in one organized children community
of St. Petersburg in the current period.
Materials and methods. 390 children and adolescents
of one of the general education schools
of St. Petersburg were examined. Presence in
blood sera of IgG to bacterial antigen of H.
pylori and IgG to its CagA toxin by ELISA
method was studied. In 222 children feces samples
were studied. Determination of presence
of H. pylori antigen in the feces was carried out
by using Helicobacter pylori antigen ELISA Kit,
Immundiagnostik test system. Results. Comparison
of H. pylori infection prevalence in
children of various age revealed that infection
is minimal in children aged 7 - 8 years (36.84%)
and reaches maximum levels in students aged
14 years (66.67%). Screening result shows that
there are 2 waves of H. pylori infection (the first
peak was detected in 11 years, the second - in
14 years). Excess weight in H. pylori positive
students is present less frequently (19.89% versus
30.13%). The difference is more notable in
boys (20.25% and 38.75% respectively). Conclusion.
A sufficiently high level of infectivity by
H. pylori in the students of this school was detected.
It was established, that seropositivity
increases with student age and reaches maxi -
mum levels in upperclassmen. 2 waves of H.
pylori infection curve are noticed. It was detected
that excess weight occurs more frequently
in children not infected by helicobater
(p<0.05). Combination of various diagnostic
methods gives more precise information on the
presence of H. pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori, H. pylori infection, IgG to H. pylori screening, antibodies to H. pylori CagA, Helicobacter pylori