[Seasonal variation in duodenal ulcer disease in the Upper Galilee]

Active duodenal ulcer disease was diagnosed in 179 of 748 patients presenting with onset of symptoms of the peptic syndrome in the course of 3 years. The diagnosis was made on the basis of either endoscopy or X-ray. The highest average annual incidence was in kibbutzim and the lowest in moshavim (98.9 and 49.2 new cases/year/100,000, respectively). A peak in the diagnosis of new cases of active duodenal ulcer was demonstrated in November, December and January, compared with an equal distribution among other months. There was a diagnostic peak in the winter, and a seasonal decrease in the fall (56 +/- 4 vs 38 +/- 4, M +/- SE, respectively). These findings were statistically significant when proportions of total visits to the Gastroenterology Clinic were compared (Z = 1.976; p less than 0.05).