Peptic ulcer in Iranian children.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Radiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a significant gastrointestinal condition.
• PUD in children presents unique diagnostic and clinical challenges.
• Limited data exists on PUD prevalence in pediatric populations in developing countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the clinical characteristics and radiological diagnosis of peptic ulcers in Iranian children.
• To determine the incidence and epidemiological features of PUD in this pediatric cohort.
• To compare PUD prevalence in Iranian children with international data.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 30 pediatric peptic ulcer cases diagnosed via strict radiological criteria.
• Review of presenting symptoms, complications (hemorrhage, perforation), and demographic data.
• Calculation of incidence rates and comparison with existing literature.

Main Results:

• Upper abdominal pain was the most frequent symptom.
• Hemorrhage (36.6%) and melena/hematemesis (16.6%) requiring transfusion were common complications.
• The incidence of PUD in Iranian children was 15.1 per 10,000, with 60% of cases in females.
• The sole fatality resulted from duodenal ulcer perforation.
• Most affected children were from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in Tehran.

Conclusions:

• Peptic ulcer disease in Iranian children exhibits distinct epidemiological patterns, with a higher incidence in females compared to Western data.
• Radiological diagnosis is crucial for accurate PUD assessment in pediatric patients.
• The findings suggest a potentially higher prevalence of PUD in Iranian children than previously reported, warranting further investigation.