Many children who are being treated for various abdominal disturbances may have an active ulcer, the 23rd annual convention of the American College of Gastro-enterology was told here today.
Dr. Joseph Shaiken, Milwaukee, Wis., who is president-elect of the college, told the group that ulcers should be one of the first diagnoses to be considered in a child who has chronic recurrent abdominal pain.
About 1000 specialists in diseases of the stomach and intestines are meeting in New Orleans this week to hear reports on the newest treatment techniques.
Dr. Shaiken's talk was one of more than 20 scientific papers and three panel discussions scheduled for the meeting. The convention runs through Wednesday and is followed by a three-day postgraduate course in gastroen terology at the Jung hotel,
i
where all sessions are being
held.
Nervous Tension
While many of the factors contributing to ulcers in adults, including smoking and drinking, are not applicable to children, Dr. Shaiken said, nervous tension is present and is important.
An associate professor of medicine at Marquette university school of medicine, Dr. Shaiken said unsatisfactory family situations, broken homes, difficulties with playmates, unpleasant relationships at school and imaginary difficulties in some children cause a good deal of worry, tension and mental strain.
