Etiology of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in young children.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of children younger than two years old admitted to a pediatric emergency department with upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

METHODS: Thirty four (34) children aged < 2 years with upper gastrointestinal bleeding were studied. The demographic features, etiologies, laboratory and endoscopic findings and treatment procedures were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS: The study consisted of 34 patients (73.5 % male, 26.5 % female) with a median age 12.3 months (1.5-24 months). 30 patients (88 %) had an underlying disease. 21 patients (56 %) had a history of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs intake. Endoscopic findings were pathological in 85% of patients.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in children aged < 2 years due to antipyretics must be taken into consideration although most of them may also have an underlying disease.