Role of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in children with iron deficiency anemia in western Rajasthan

Abstract

Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy reveals abnormal pathological findings in 55% patients of iron deficiency anemia therefore gastrointestinal pathology should be ruled out iron deficiency anemia not responding to the treatment.To determine the role of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and find out the pathological changes which occur in children with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) This cross-sectional study included 95 pediatric patients with iron deficiency anemia in the age group between 3 to 17 years who underwent routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. All potential bleeding lesions were identified and biopsy samples were taken from 2 part of duodenum for histopathological examinations. The mean age of cases was 7.3±3.3 years. Endoscopy revealed abnormal finding in 63.1% patients. The gastrointestinal pathologies identified were celiac disease in 22 patients, nonspecific duodenitis in 11 patients, H.Pylori duodenitis in 8 patients, erosive duodenitis in 7 patients and giardiasis in 3 patients. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy has a definitive role in identifying the underlying cause of iron deficiency anemia in patients not responding to conventional therapy.