This study was undertaken to investigate the seroepidemiologic pattern of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections in children.

A total of 315 serum samples were obtained from healthy children, living in Gwangju and Chonnam area. All serum samples were assayed for H. pylori IgG level using enzyme immunoassay techniques. HAV IgG level in serum were tested by a competitive radio-immunoassay in 215 subjects. The age-specific seroprevalence of H. pylori and HAV was separately analysed. The concordance of seropositivity and seronegativity between H. pylori and HAV infection was examined by the kappa statistic analysis.

Seropositivity was found in 17.5% (55/315) and 30.2% (65/215) of the subjects for H. pylori and HAV, respectively. Cross-tabulation of these data showed that 21 subjects (9.8%) were seropositive and 135 (62.8%) were seronegative for both H. pylori and HAV, 15 (7.0%) were seropositive for only H. pylori and 44 (20.5%) for only HAV. The seroprevalence of H. pylori and HAV increased significantly with age. There was a slight agreement between H. pylori and HAV seropositivity (κ=0.26).

This study shows a slight similarity in the concordance of seropositivity and seronegativity between H. pylori and HAV infection and provides evidence that H. pylori and HAV may share a common mode of transmission.