Kent Child Health

Dr. Rohit Gowda
Consultant Paediatrician and Gastroenterologist

 

Dyspepsia is a term used to describe a variety of symptoms which involve the upper part of the gut such as nausea, excessive burping, bloating, dull pain in the stomach.

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An increasing number of children are presenting with these symptoms which used to be more common problem in adults.

Assessment of symptoms involves identifying associated red flag symptoms which may provide clues to underlying disease. These symptoms include dysphagia or food getting stuck after swallowing, night time pain where pain wakes up children from sleep etc.

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Children with associated symptoms usually require investigations such as an upper GI endoscopy.

Dyspepsia can also be a functional disorder where in no underlying cause can be found but nevertheless symptoms are bothersome.

Sometimes psychosocial factors such as stress, anxiety may be involved in causing these symptoms and these need to be addressed.