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Endoscopic examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract in infancy
Insights
Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in infants is often caused by duodenal ulcers or gastritis. Viral infections and aspirin may precede these bleeding events, with some cases showing no endoscopic abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Endoscopic Procedures
- Infant Health
Background:
- Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a significant concern in infants.
- Identifying the causes of UGIB in this age group is crucial for effective management.
- Endoscopy offers a direct visualization method for diagnosing gastrointestinal issues in infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the indications and findings of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in infants.
- To determine the common causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the pediatric population.
- To assess the correlation between preceding factors and endoscopic findings in infant UGIB.
Main Methods:
- Performed forty upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examinations in 38 infants (2 days to 12 months old).
- Indications included upper gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic intractable vomiting, and small intestinal biopsy.
- Analyzed endoscopic findings and associated clinical data.
Main Results:
- Duodenal ulcer, hemorrhagic gastritis, and gastric erosions were the most frequent causes of UGIB.
- Acute viral infections, aspirin ingestion, and diarrhea often preceded UGIB from duodenal ulcers and gastric erosions.
- Endoscopic examination revealed no abnormalities in 4 out of 27 infants experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding.
Conclusions:
- Endoscopy is a valuable tool for diagnosing upper gastrointestinal pathologies in infants.
- Common causes of UGIB in infants include duodenal ulcer, hemorrhagic gastritis, and gastric erosions.
- Further investigation may be needed for cases of infant UGIB with normal endoscopic findings.
Abstract:
Forty endoscopic examinations of the upper gastrointestinal tract were performed in 38 infants with an age range from 2 days to 12 months. The main indications were upper gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic intractable vomiting, and small intestinal biopsy. Duodenal ulcer, hemorrhagic gastritis, and gastric erosions were the most common causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in infancy. An acute viral infection with fever, aspirin ingestion, and diarrhea frequently preceded gastrointestinal bleeding from duodenal ulcer and gastric erosion. Four of the 27 bleeding patients demonstrated no abnormality endoscopically.