Peptic ulcer disease in children

Abstract 

Peptic ulcer disease is uncommon in children. Ulcers may be primary or secondary in nature. When primary ulcers occur, they are usually duodenal. The vast majority of primary duodenal ulcers are associated with Helicobacter pylori infection of the gastric antral mucosa. Although H. pylori is almost always acquired in childhood, peptic ulceration is rare under the age of 10 years. The host or bacterial factors which result in a minority of H. pylori infected individuals developing duodenal ulcer disease are as yet unknown. Secondary ulceration which may be gastric or duodenal can occur at any age. It may be life threatening in the acute phase due to the risk of perforation, but after healing, recovery is usually complete.

Keywords: peptic ulcer, children, Helicobacter pylori

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• f1 Correspondence to: SQ: E-mail: shoanaquinn@hotmail.com