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Etiology of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in young children

Derya Kalyoncu1, Nafiye Urganci, Feyzullah Cetinkaya

  • 1Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Pediatrics, Istanbul, Turkey. deryakaly@yahoo.com

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|November 12, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in infants under two years is often linked to antipyretic use, even with underlying conditions. This study highlights the need to consider medication as a cause in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a significant concern in pediatric populations.
  • Etiologies and risk factors for UGIB in infants and toddlers require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate children younger than two years old admitted to a pediatric emergency department with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • To identify demographic features, etiologies, and treatment outcomes in this patient group.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 34 children aged less than 2 years with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • Analysis of demographic data, underlying diseases, medication history (aspirin/NSAIDs), and endoscopic findings.

Main Results:

  • The study included 34 patients (73.5% male) with a median age of 12.3 months.
  • 88% of patients had an underlying disease, and 56% had a history of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intake.
  • Endoscopic findings were pathological in 85% of patients.

Conclusions:

  • Antipyretic medications, such as aspirin and NSAIDs, are a notable cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in children under two years.
  • The incidence of UGIB in this age group necessitates consideration of medication use, even in the presence of underlying conditions.
Abstract

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