Retrospective study of 42 children with gastric ulcer

Hou L-Y, Yan H-M, Li S-T, Wang Ch-L, Ji Zh-Y

Beijing Children’s Hospital, Beijing, China

 

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestations and implication of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) with gastric ulcers in children.

Methods: All 42 children with gastric ulcers diagnosed by flexible gastroscopy. Biopsy was reviewed for 33 cases. Detected Hp use rapid urease testing (RUT) on gastric biopsy and biopsy specimens with Giemsa stain.

Results: 2154 children were examined by flexible gastroscopy between January 1991 and December 2000 in Beijing Children’s Hospital. Diagnosed 236 cases with ulcer disease, 42 cases with gastric ulcers, 191 cases with duodenal ulcers, 3 cases with compound ulcers. The detectable rate of gastric ulcers were 1.95% (42/2154) and 17.80%(42/236) in gastroscopy and ulcer disease, respectively. Duodenal ulcer and gastric ulcer ratio was 4.55: 1. There were 36 boys and 6 girls among 42 children with gastric ulcers. Their mean age was 8.41±3.88 (from 11 month and 14 years). 8 children (19.05%) had family history of ulcers. Primary ulcers were diagnosed in 35 patients (83.33%) and secondary ulcers in 7 (16.67%). Smptoms of gastric ulcers: 38 patients (90.48%) had epigastric abdominal pain; 27 patients (64.29%) had acute or chronic gastrointestinal blood loss (hematemesis hematochezia, melena); 26 patients (61.90%) had vomiting; 18 patients (42.86%) had anorexia; 9 patients (21.43%) had anemia; 7 patients (6.67%) had acid regurgitation. Complications: 27 cases had gastrointestinal hemorrhage; 1 case had obstruction; no case had penetration. The region of gastric ulcers occurrence: gastric antrum: 17 cases; body of stomach: 9 cases; gastric angle: 7 cases; pyloric canal: 5 cases; fundus of stomach: 5 cases. The positive rate of Hp was 42.42% (14/33).

Conclusions: The morbidity of gastric ulcer is lower than duodenal ulcer. Less than half of the gastric ulcers were associated with the infection of Hp.

 
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