Aetiological and Clinical Profile of Hypertension in Children

We wanted to study the clinical and aetiological profile of hypertension in children and compare the results with previous studies done in paediatric hypertension among children between 3 and 15 years of age. METHODSAll children between 3 and 15 years of age who visited the Outpatient & Inpatient Department of Paediatrics, SAIMS were screened for the presence of hypertension. Systematic investigations were done to find out the aetiology of hypertension. RESULTSMaximum number of patients were in the age group of 3 to 9 years, followed by 12 to 15 years and 9 to 12 years age groups. Males were affected more. Nephrotic syndrome was the commonest cause of hypertension in children. CONCLUSIONSIn this study, it has been observed that minimum number of patients were in age group 9 - 12 years patients (19.3 %) and maximum number of patients were in the age group 3 - 9 years (51.6 %) with a M : F ratio of 1 : 0.93. and the main aetiology of hypertension was found to be nephrotic syndrome.

Esophageal varices presenting as lower GI bleed in an infant: a rare presentation

GI Bleeding is a common problem encountered in the emergency department and in the primary care settings. Lower GI Bleeding is relatively rare as compared to upper GI bleeding. Common causes of lower GI Bleeding are Polyp (32.5%), chronic nonspecific colitis (20.7%), lymphoid nodular hyperplasia (20%), Proctitis (18.2%), Solitary rectal ulcer (10%), Inflammatory bowel disease (6.5%).Among the various causes of lower GI Bleeding, esophageal varices is a rare cause. One such case presented to us with lower GI bleeding, on further evaluation was found to having esophageal varices due to portal hypertension. Child improved after conservative and definitive management.