ABSTRACT
476 endoscopic reports of 435 children under 15 years old of both sexes were reviewed to determine the morbility of gastroduodenal peptic ulcer. Endoscopy was performed because they had symptoms referred to the upper gastrointestinal tract between December 1989 and December 1994. Gastroduodenal ulcer was diagnosed in forty five children (10,3%). Primary ulcer was diagnosed in twenty four patients (55%) and secondary ulcers in twenty one (45%), being the administration of ulcerogenic drugs the main factor involved. Primary ulcer was more frequently diagnosed in older children and teenagers and localized mainly in the duodenum. Male sex was predominant in both types of ulcers. 42% of children with primary ulcers had familiar ocurrence of ulcer disease. Thirty three patients (73%) had complications, being gastrointestinal bleeding the most frequent. Ulcer disease is not rare in children and must be suspected in patients with recurrent abdominal pain.
ABSTRACT
In the last years, one of the causative agents of post-transfusion non A non B hepatitis has been identified as hepatitis virus C(HCV). In order to determine the HCV prevalence in a pediatric population, an anti-HCV determination through Cuban manufactured Microelisa system was done to 500 hospitalized children under 14 years old, of both sex, for six months. The samples repeatedly reactive were considered positive, the risk factors for this infection were evaluated and the Relative Risk was estimated. Seven patients (1,4% of the sample) were HCV-positive, and underwent clinical, biochemical, immunological, echographic, laparoscopic and histological examinations to determine the hepatic damages associated to the presence of this virus. The Relative Risk for HCV is 4,5 times more for those with previous surgical operation, 3,9 for those who have had more than four previous hospitalizations and, of 2,6 and 1,9 for those with previous transfusion and treatment with vaccine, respectively. The predominant histological lesion reported was a minimum damage of the liver cells. It is important to screen for HCV in blood banks and to study other possible routes of transmission. We recommend the follow up of these patients for the possibility of cronical sequela.
