RECURRENT BLEEDING FROM A DUODENAL-ULCER IN A 5-YEAR-OLD HEALTHY BOY

Peptic ulcers in infants are rare. We report a 5-year-old boy who was admitted with recurrent bleeding from a huge duodenal ulcer. There wer e no concomitant disease and no preceding symptoms discovered. The onl y clinical symptom was bloody stool of light red color what led to dia gnostic problems. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was not considered i nitially. Short transit time through the gut may suggest a bleeding so urce within the lower intestine. Gastroscopy was performed delayed. In jection therapy of the ulcer once using fibrin sealant was followed by definite cessation of bleeding. Helicobacter pylori was not found. Ho rmone producing tumors could be excluded. There was a psyche-social si tuation of stress recognizable for the infant. The pathogenic mechanis m of peptic ulceration due to psyche-social stress is unknown and some what doubtful at all. Peptic ulcer disease in infants and children sho uld more often be considered when dealing with diffuse abdominal pain or with gastrointestinal bleeding.