Abstract
Gastro-intestinal manifestations of 138 severely handicapped children were studied. Vomiting or hematemesis was most frequently observed; in 25 of all patients (18.1%) and in 13 of 38 bedridden patients (34.2%).
Transillumination of stomach or gastroscopy was performed in 20 patients. More than half of them had vomiting or hematemesis as a main symptom. Esophagitis due to gastroesophageal reflux or hiatal hernia was found in these patients, who had vomiting or hematemesis.
Symptoms of vomiting or hematemesis in severely handicapped children suggest the presence of esophgitis due to gastroesophageal reflux or hiatal hernia as a main cause.
