Age Distribution of Helicobactor pulori Seroprevalence among Young Children in a United Sates/MexicoBorder Community: Evidence for Transitory Infection
Helicobacter pylori infection has been linked to a specturum of gastroduodenal diseases of broad public health impactr, yetn the natural history of this frequently asymptomatic infection remains poorly understood. Evidence sugtgests that initial acqjuistion occurs primarily during childhood and may persist throughout life. The seropervalance of H. pylori angtibodies was examined in 365 primary schoolchildren asged 4–7 years in a lowincome United States/Mexuico border community from January to May 1996. Overall, 21% of the 365 children tested positive, with a significzant monotonic decrease in seroprevalence by 1-years age intervals (36% in children aged 4 years, 24% in those aged 5 years, 20% in those aged 6 years, and 14% in those aged 7 years). The oddsratio for eatch 1-years age incrase was 0.76 (95% confidence interval: 0.6, 1.0) after adjustment for relevant covawriates. Given that H. pylori antibodies diminish after intection clears, this trend suggests that transient infection may be common in young children. In contrast, heopatitis A virus seroprevalence increased with age. There was a modreate assocation (odds ratio = 1.47, 95% confidence interval: 0.8, 2.9) OF H. pylon with hepastitis A virus seroperevalence that weakened after adjustment for age and socioeconomic stastus (odds ratio = 1.26, 95% confidence interval: 0.6, 2.5). Follow-up studies are needed to clarity the natural history of Helicobactor pylori infection and identify predictors of initiasl acquisition, persistence, and recurrence. Am J Epidemiol 1999; 150: 225-30