Abstract
Information is limited concerning the long term prognosis for paediatric peptic ulcer disease. We traced 19 individuals in whom this diagnosis had been made 14 to 27 years earlier. All had been diagnosed using strict criteria. Each completed a postal questionnaire and where necessary further information was obtained by direct interview or by discussion with the general practitioner. Hospital case notes, from adult life, were studied where these were available.
At follow up the subjects ranged from 25 to 38 (median 30) years old. A high incidence of morbidity persisting into adult life was found. Nine (47%) had had a proven ulcer recurrence since entering adult life. Ten (53%) were no longer prone to recurring episodes of abdominal pain, but 40% of these had undergone vagotcmy and pyloroplasty for intractable symptoms. Thus only six patients (31%) had made a lasting and spontaneous recovery. Complications such as haemorrhage, penetrating ulcer, severe pyloric stenosis or perforation had occurred in 10 (53%). Seven (37%) had undergone surgery, and in two of these cases more than one operation had been performed. Fifty-eight percent of ccmplications suffered and 89% of surgical operations performed involved patients of 21 years or older.
These findings firmly reinforce the opinion that the disorder frequently persists into adult life. The impact of the newer means of medical therapy, such as the H2 receptor antagonists remains to be evaluated.
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Murphy, M., Fastham, E. & Nelson, R. 30. PEPTIC ULCER IN CHILDHOOD: TIE LONG TERM PROGNOSLS. Pediatr Res 22, 101 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00051
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00051