Peptic ulcer disease in childhood in Zaria, Nigeria.

Abstract

Over a 10-year period in a busy paediatric surgical unit, six children were operated upon for peptic ulcer disease, four of whom presented with complications (pyloric stenosis, two; perforation, one; bleeding, one). Truncal vagotomy with a drainage procedure was the operation of choice in five of the children in whom there were no complications. One child suspected of having Zollinger-Ellison syndrome had recurrence of symptoms. Symptoms of peptic ulcer disease in children are non-specific, and in our environment such symptoms are frequently considered to be due to parasitic infestation. Barium meal is not very sensitive in diagnosis in children, and the relative lack of availability of endoscopic services limits pre-operative diagnosis. It is suggested that peptic ulcer disease be considered in children who have persistent or recurrent abdominal pain of obscure aetiology.