Gastrointestinal diseases; frequency of symptoms

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of gastrointestinal [GI] diseases/symptoms in a tertiary care hospital of Peshawar. A Cross sectional observational study was conducted in Medical department Khyber teaching hospital Peshawar from August 2005 to March 2006. A total of 189 patients with established diagnosis of any gastrointestinal disease were randomly selected. Out of total 101 [53.43%] were males and 88[46.56%] were females. Relevant information's were recorded on a pre-designed questionnaire was designed in accordance with the objectives of the study. The age range of the patients was from 8 years to 82 years with mean age of 47.5 years. The mode age observed was 45 years. Of total sampling [43.91%] were Illiterate, primary passed [24.33%], matric education [15.87%], secondary education [11.11%] and [4.76%] patients had degree level education. The gastrointestinal disease pattern was acute peptic disease/ dyspepsia [15.87%], reflux esophagitis [7.91%], duodenal ulcer [1.5%], gastric ulcer [0.5%], worm infestation [1.5%], esophageal carcinoma [0.5%] and miscellaneous in 136[71.95%] patients. The distribution of the gastrointestinal disease symptoms was chronic diarrhea [19.04%], vomiting [1216%], dysentery [6.34%], bleeding per rectum [5.20%], constipation [2.1%], anorexia [1.5%], dysphagia [1.10%] and multiple symptoms were recorded in [24.33%] patients. acute peptic disease/dyspepsia, chronic diarrhea dysentery, reflux esophagitis are major gastro intestinal [GI] diseases in our setup. Duodenal and gastric ulcers, carcinoma of gastrointestinal tract, worms infestation, dysphagia and anorexia were not as common