IDENTIFICATION OF UNDERLYING CAUSES OF CHRONIC UNSPECIFIC UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL-RELATED SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN, A PILOT STUDY.

Upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) symptoms are not disease specific and of limited value in the differentiation of GIT disorders. The present study aimed to determine the etiology of chronic unspecific symptoms in children and to test the need for upper endoscopy in diagnosis. This is a prospective study for 30 Egyptian children presented with chronic upper GIT symptoms for at least 2 months. History regarding severity and frequency of GIT symptoms were asked for. Children with known disorder that explains presenting symptoms were excluded. Upper GIT endoscopy wa performed and 5 biopsies were obtained for pathological examination and for Hpylori testing. The results showed that children age ranged between 2.5-18 years with mean ± SD of 13.6 ± 3.4 and 63.3% were females. The main complaints were epigastric pain in 43.3%, hematemesis in 30% and vomiting in 26.7%. Motility disorders were diagnosed in 66.7% children; in the form of GERD in 63.3% and achalasia in one. Complication of GERD in the form of erosive esophagitis was present in 15.8% children, while Barrett's esophagus was not observed. H. pylori infection was diagnosed in 80% histologically. Eosinophilic esophagitis was not detected.