Upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in adolescents at Lacor hospital, Uganda

Tom Richard Okello

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Fiberoptic endoscopy is a highly efficient diagnostic tool, which is now being increasingly used, in the pediatric age group. This study has been carried out to demonstrate indications for and common findings of endoscopy in children.

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records for endoscopy indication and result of children who had endoscopy between Jan 2000 to June 2005.

Results: We analyzed 135 children who were referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. There were 38 boys and 97 girls. The mean age was 16 years (SD+/−1.4293). The main indications comprised epigastric pain (67.4%), dyspepsia (11.9), hematemesis (8.9%), recurrent abdominal pain (3%) recurrent vomiting (3%), and miscellaneous (5.8%). Endoscopic diagnose included duodenal ulcer (14.8%) and gastritis (12.6%); duodenal scarring (5.2%), bile reflux (5.2%) duodenitis (4.4%) and miscellaneous 6.4%.

Conclusion: In Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure in children with gastrointestinal disorder. Gastritis and duodenal disease are commonly seen in children, hence must be included in differential diagnosis of children with digestive complaints and its management.