Peptic ulcer disease in children: report of a case and a problem-oriented review.
The family physician who sees many children with vague abdominal pain must include peptic ulcer disease in the differential diagnosis. A case report is presented and the characteristics of primary and secondary ulcers in children are reviewed with respect to symptoms, signs, diagnosis, and treatment. Ulcers in children may be primary or secondary (stress) ulcers. Clinical and radiographic diagnosis is difficult. Medical therapy suffices in most cases, but there is a high recurrence rate in adolescence and adulthood. Peptic ulcer disease in children is a diagnostic dilemma, but the family physician may be in an excellent position to make the diagnosis since he/she is often the first physician to see the patient and is aware of altered family dynamics, which may play a role in this disease.
D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy