Abstract
PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in normal preschool children.
METHODS
Study population consisted of 220 preschool children aged 2 to 5 years in Seoul, Korea. We measured H. pylori specific IgG antibody using the GAP test IgG kit, and samples with concentrations greater than 20 U/ml were considered positive.
RESULTS
Of the 220 children, 5 (2.3%) were positive, and thirteen (5.9%) of 220 were equivocally probable positive.
CONCLUSION
The positive rate of H. pylori infection detected by specific IgG antibody in normal preschool children aged 2 to 5 years was approximately 2.3% to 8.2%. This prevalence rate is still high, compared to that of the West. A better knowledge of the transmission of H. pylori is crucial to formulate recommendations for lowering the rate.