The prevalence and rate of acquisition of Helicobacter pylori infection in children from developing countries is higher than in developed countries. This phenomenon has been related to differences in socioeconomic status, sanitation, and household hygiene. Russia is in the process of transforming from an underdeveloped to a developed country.
To examine the effect of recent improvements in standards of living on the prevalence of H pylori in Russian children.
We conducted 2 cross-sectional studies among children in St Petersburg, Russia. The first study was conducted in 1995 and the second was conducted a decade later. H pylori status was evaluated by the same enzyme-linked immunoassay method for anti-H pylori immunoglobulin G. Demographic data were obtained from each individual, and socioeconomic class was assessed by the education level of the mother and family income.
In 1995 the overall prevalence of H pylori infection was 44%; 10 years later it had decreased to 13%. In both studies, the prevalence increased with age. In 1995 the prevalence was 30% among children younger than 5 years. A decade later the prevalence in the same age group was 2% (P = 0.001). The age-specific prevalence of H pylori infection increased significantly with age in both study periods. During 1995 the prevalence of the infection increased from 30% at age