title: Upper gastrointestinal diseases in patients for endoscopy in South-Western Uganda.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a paucity of published data regarding upper gastrointestinal diseases in Ugandans with upper gastrointestinal symptoms referred for endoscopy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the presenting complaints, pathology and Helicobacter pylori prevalence among patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms in South-Western Uganda.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal symptoms underwent upper endoscopy and a urease test for Helicobacter Pylori, all suspicious lesions were biopsied for histopathology review as appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common presenting complaints were epigastric pain (51.6%), dysphagia (13.6%) and odynophagia (7.1%). The most common endoscopy finding was gastritis (40.2%), followed by normal examination (15.2%), oesophageal cancer (13.6%), gastric ulcer (7.6%) and gastric cancer (7.1%). Patients older than 40 years (n=110) had significant findings including gastritis (50.9%), oesophageal cancer (22.7%) and gastric cancer (11.8%). However in younger patients, with the age range of 18-40 years (n=74), most examinations were normal (92.9%). Of the 176 patients able to undergo Helicobacter pylori testing 75.6% were positive. Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with statistically significant increase in gastritis, oesophageal cancer, gastric ulcer, gastric cancer, and duodenal ulcers (p-values< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gastritis, ulcerative disease, and upper gastrointestinal malignancies are common in South-Western Ugandans and are associated with a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori.
authors.affiliation: Mbarara University Teaching Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda and the Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Siraji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Obayo
authors.affiliation: Mbarara University Teaching Hospital, Mbarara Uganda.
authors.forename: Conrad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muzoora
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Institute, Research; Makerere University.
authors.forename: Ponsiano
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ocama
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cooney
authors.affiliation: Mbarara University Teaching Hospital, Mbarara Uganda.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Probert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Endoscopy; Helicobacter pylori; Pathology; Uganda; Upper gastrointestinal symptoms; Urease test