Peptic Ulcer
A peptic ulcer is erosion of the lining of the stomach or duodenum due to excess stomach acid, breakdown of the stomach's protective lining, or both.
Peptic ulcers are much less common in children than in adults. As with adults, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria can lead to the formation of peptic ulcers (see Section 9, Chapter 121). Children whose parents have peptic ulcers are more likely to have ulcers, as are those whose parents smoke. Adolescents who drink alcohol or smoke are also more likely to develop ulcers. Children of any age can develop ulcers when they are extremely sick, such as after severe burns, injuries, and illnesses.
Infants with ulcers may be fussy and irritable around feedings. Ulcers in older children usually cause abdominal pain. At any age, peptic ulcers can perforate, bleed, or lead to obstruction. The diagnosis and treatment of peptic ulcers and their complications are the same in children as in adults.
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