Histological changes in the gastric and duodenal mucosa in children with recurrent abdominal pain treated at the Hospital Militar Escuela “Dr. Alejandro Dávila Bolaños”, 2017.

Abstract

In order to analyze the histological changes in the gastric and duodenal mucosa in pediatric patients with recurrent abdominal pain, submitted to upper digestive endoscopy, at the Hospital Militar Escuela “Dr. Alejandro Dávila Bolaños”during 2017, a retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, pathological antecedents, signs and symptoms, histological changes in gastric and duodenal biopsies were analyzed. The statistical analyzes performed were: descriptive, Spearman's non-parametric correlation tests and Phi association tests. The results obtained were the following: female sex predominated with 54.3%, the mean age was 8.51 years. The pathological antecedents were gastroesophageal reflux disease and familial acid peptic disease in 2.9%. The symptoms were epigastric pain in 85.7%, nocturnal awakening due to pain in 25.7%, vomiting in 34.3%, and weight loss in 8.6%. In the results of the duodenal biopsies found 25.7% of normal duodenal mucosa, 54.3% of nonspecific chronic duodenitis, 14.3% presence of Helicobacter pylori and 5.7% atrophy of duodenal villi.

The results of gastric biopsies were:  normal gastric mucosa 22.9%, mild chronic gastritis 37.1%, moderate chronic gastritis 5.7%, severe chronic gastritis 8.6%, presence of Helicobacter pylori 25.7%. The Spearman correlation test showed a significant correlation (p = 0.000) between gastric biopsy and duodenal biopsy results. The Phi association test demonstrated a significant association (p = 0.033) between epigastric pain and abnormal gastric biopsy.

Keywords: Upper endoscopy, recurrent abdominal pain, histological changes.