Diagnostic management of epigastric pain in Uganda

180 patients who attended the out patient of Hoima Hospital (Uganda) complaining of epigastric pain were studied in order to verify the cause of it and to assess the most effective diagnostic iter. All the patients underwent the following examinations : stool examination for parasites; upper digestive tract endoscopy; ultra sound scan of liver; spleen; pancreas and kidneys. The results suggest that being the main causes of epigastric pain in Uganda intestinal parasitosis (21 per cent); gastro-enteric upper tract lesions with endoscopic signs of disease and functional dyspepsia the best approach of assessment of epigastric pain is first of all to rule out the presence of parasites in the stool