BACKGROUND: In the pediatric population, recurrent abdominal
pain (RAP) is one of the most frequent indications of upper
gastrointestinal endoscopy.
AIM: To evaluate the diagnostic role of upper gastrointestinal
endoscopy (UGIE) in children with recurrent abdominal pain.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A three year prospective study
was conducted on 100 consecutive children with recurrent abdominal
pain who had UGIE. Baseline sociodemographic data, dyspepsia
and any alarm symptoms were recorded. Other investigations such
as stool analysis for ova, parasites, occult blood and fecal antigen
for Helicobacter pylori as well as an abdominal ultrasound were also
registered.
RESULTS: Our children were 47 (47%) males and 53 (53%)
females with mean ±SD age of 10.9 ±4.2. Red flag symptoms
were seen in 39(39%) of the subjects, and dyspepsia was seen in
52(52%). Endoscopy was diagnostic in 75 patients with the following
endoscopic findings were: Esophagitis & hiatus hernia in 7%,
gastritis in 39% of cases, nodularity in 25% of cases, 6% had gastric
erosion, gastric ulcer was present in 5 %, 14% had hyperemia&
erythemic membrane in the duodenum, and duodenal ulcer was seen
in 2%. Significantly greater diagnostic yield of UGIE was determined
in patients with alarm symptoms (66.6%) compared to those without
(OR = 6.7, 95% CI: 2.5-23.3, p = 0.03).
CONCLUSION: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is a helpful tool
for determining the reason of recurrent abdominal pain in children
because it provides an accurate assessment of gastrointestinal
etiology