Teen with an ulcer - could you believe this?

kranich · Silver Member Joined: 11 May 2000 Posts: 261

Hi. Just recently I have found out terrible news-my 12 year old son is suffering from duodenal ulcer.
Could you believe this? One 12 years old to get an ulcer? I believed that this is only adults disease but I uses I was wrong.
First symptoms that made me to suspect were burning or gnawing feeling in the stomach area that lasted between 30 minutes and 3 hours that started after a meal. Then occurred appetite and weight loss and that made me to take him to gastrologist. All this made him very depressed because he spent last month a lot of time in his room because of some gastrological infection he got on some vacation with his friends and now this! What could cause this ulcer to show?

baxendale · Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 10

Stomach ulcers are not an "adult disease". Children can also develop stomach ulcers.
Well, you already probably know what are the ulcer’s most common risk factors – alcohol, emotional stress, cigarette smoking and one bacteria called helicobacter pylori.
I think that none of these affected you son because he’s too young for it. You have mentioned that your son has some stomach infection earlier, well; I believe this could be the key information- any medication containing ibuprofen or aspirin could be cause of ulcer.
Your son has probably got appropriate therapy but you should know that you must follow the instructions that the doctor has given you even if the symptoms have disappeared.

Teen with an ulcer - could you believe this?

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