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Perforated duodenal ulcer in a young child: an uncommon condition
R P Yadav1, C S Agrawal, R K Gupta
1Department of Surgery, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. yadavrohitl@yahoo.com
Insights
Perforated duodenal ulcers are rare in children but can lead to serious complications. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for better outcomes in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Surgical Pediatrics
Background:
- Duodenal ulcers are infrequently diagnosed in pediatric populations.
- Risk factors include Helicobacter pylori infection, blood group 'O', NSAID/corticosteroid use, and physiological stress.
Observation:
- A 4 1/2-year-old male child presented with symptoms of perforation peritonitis.
- The patient was incidentally found to have a perforated duodenal ulcer.
Findings:
- Successful surgical management of a perforated duodenal ulcer in a young child.
- Highlights the importance of considering duodenal perforation in pediatric cases presenting with peritonitis.
Implications:
- Undiagnosed or delayed treatment of perforated duodenal ulcers in children can result in high morbidity and mortality.
- This case underscores the need for heightened clinical suspicion and prompt intervention for pediatric duodenal perforations.
Abstract:
Duodenal ulcer is an uncommonly diagnosed entity in children. H. pylori infection, blood group 'O' or secondary to medications like non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and corticosteroids or physiological stress in burns, head injury and mucosal ischemia are implicated as risk factors for their causation. The diagnosis is usually overlooked because of vague and variable symptoms and remote index of suspicion accounted for their low incidence in children. Undiagnosed or mistreated perforations may carry high morbidity and mortality. We report a successfully treated 41/2 year old male child who presented with features of perforation peritonitis and was incidentally found to have a perforated duodenal ulcer.
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