Ulcers in children can be caused by chronic disease, medication, viral infections, trauma, or diabetes. Stomach ulcers are usually caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or chronic illness. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, and decreased appetite. Treatment options vary and may include medication, antacids, or wound care. Management of underlying conditions is important to prevent recurrence.
Ulcers in children are usually associated with chronic disease or the use of certain medications known to exacerbate ulcers. While many people use “ulcer” generically to refer to peptic ulcers, sores located in the stomach, an ulcer is really any open sore or sore, including a mouth ulcer or skin ulcer. Children can develop such sores anywhere on their bodies, and the causes of different types of ulcers in children vary. Treatments are usually available to resolve or manage ulcers and keep a child comfortable.
In the sense of peptic ulcers, most children develop gastric ulcers, which are ulcers located specifically in the stomach. While these are usually linked to Helicobacter pylori infection in adults, stomach ulcers in children are more commonly caused by the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Children are more sensitive to these drugs and therefore will often experience more adverse reactions to them. Gastric ulcers are also seen in seriously ill children and children with chronic illnesses, with the ulcers appearing as a complication often related to the treatment used.
Signs of stomach ulcers in children can include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, and decreased appetite. Children may also feel generally uneasy and unwell. Because many pediatricians don’t expect to find ulcers, several avenues of diagnosis and treatment may be pursued before the doctor identifies ulcers as an explanation for the symptoms. Children with chronic conditions related to ulcers should be regularly evaluated for signs of complications such as ulcers.
Oral ulcers, or mouth sores, can occur in children as a result of viral infections, trauma, adverse drug reactions such as chemotherapy, and chronic conditions associated with oral ulcers. Children can also develop ulcers on the skin due to trauma or chronic untreated diabetes. Diabetic ulcers in children occur because circulation is impaired and part of the skin dies due to poor blood supply.
When ulcers in children are identified, tests may be conducted to find out the cause. Treatments vary. Medications are available to kill the organisms associated with ulcers, antacid medications can be taken for stomach ulcers, and diabetic ulcers can be cleaned and dressed to promote healing. Management of the underlying chronic conditions is important to reduce the risk of ulcer recurrence. Since children sometimes have difficulty sticking to medication treatment schedules, changes can be made to a child’s treatment plan to make it easier to manage a chronic condition. This may include switching from a drug known to induce ulcers to another drug.
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