Causes of dyspepsia in patients consulting Tikrit teaching hospital

Abstract

To identify the causes of dyspepsia in Tikrit province, upper gastrointestinal (GIT) endoscopy was done and antral biopsies were taken from 200 patients. Abnormal findings on endoscopy were significantly higher in older age group ( 45 years and older ) than the younger age group ( below 45 years old ), 81 % versus 50%. Gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastritis and/or duodenitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease were found in 5%, 21 %, 22% and 2% of the younger age group and l 0%, 24%, 28% and 12% of the older age group respectively. Malignant diseases were found in 7 patients of the older age group but none in the younger age group.
H.pylori was detected in 68% of younger and 81 % of older dyspeptic patients. Abdominal pain was the most frequent symptoms in patients included in this study. Loss of appetite, loss of weight and dysphagia were more common in those with malignancies.