Iron deficiency anemia: the utility of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and histopathohgy

Occult blood loss must be considered as a possible cause in every case of iron deficiency anemia. To evaluate upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in finding a potential cause for iron deficiency anemia among children in Al-Anbar governorate. Twenty five children aged 2-14 years, referred to the gastroenterology unit in Al-Ramadi General Hospital for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy had iron deficiency anemia. Fiberoptic endoscopy was used under general anesthesia and endoscopic tissue biopsies were taken from 22 patients for histopathological examination. The main presenting signs and symptoms were pallor, abdominal pain, and stunting. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed thinning of duodenal folds and serrated mucosa in 8 [32%], duodenal ulcer in 3 [12%], esophageal varices in 1 [4%], nodular gastritis in 1 [4%], and reflux esophagitis in 1 [4%], with a yield rate of 56%. While tissue biopsies revealed histopathological findings suggestive of celiac disease in 12 [48%], Giardia lamblia in 2 [8%], Helicobacter pylori gastritis in 1 [4%], and esophagitis in 1 [4%]. There was a significant association between the endoscopic finding of thinning of duodenal folds and serrated mucosa and the histopathological finding suggestive of celiac disease, P<0.05. Iron deficiency anemia in children 2-14 years of age warrants upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to find potentially treatable causes for the iron deficiency anemia

Gross congenital malformations in neonates in Ramadi city during the year 1990: types, incidence, and possible teratogens

This study was conducted on the newly born infants in Ramnadi obstetric and pediatric hospital during the year 1990. The type of the gross anomaly, its prevalence, and the risk factor were studied for each case out of 6988 neonates, 55 showed gross congenital anomalies [0.79%]. Anomalies of skull, meninges, and brain were the most common [58 followed by musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal deformities [14.53% each], urogenital [727%], cardiovascular [3.64%], and finally skin [1.82%]. Consanguinity, multiparity, and the hot peak of summer months coinciding with the most sensitive embryonic period [2nd month], appeared to be the most common teratogenic factors in this area