Background Upper endoscopy is an essential tool for diagnosing pediatric gastrointestinal issues. This study aimed to assess the indications, diagnostic yields, concordance between histopathological and endoscopic findings and suitability of upper endoscopies performed at a tertiary university hospital in Jordan. Methods Hospital records of children who underwent upper endoscopy were retrospectively reviewed. Demographics, endoscopic details (e.g., indications, findings and any complications), and histopathological findings were collected. The relationship between endoscopic findings and histopathological abnormalities was reported. Results The study included 778 patients (age, 92.5 ± 54.5 months; 380 girls, 48.8%). The most common age group was children younger than 60 months (273 patients, 34.3%). The most common indication for endoscopy was abdominal pain, followed by vomiting and failure to thrive or weight loss. Normal upper endoscopy was reported in 411 patients (52.8%). Age below 60 months, abdominal pain, dysphagia/odynophagia, and heartburn were predictive of abnormal endoscopy in multivariate analysis with p-value 0.000, 0.048, 0.001 and 0.01 respectively. Abnormal endoscopy showed 67.3% sensitivity and 69.9% specificity to predict histopathological abnormalities. Of those performed, 13.6% endoscopies were described as inappropriate indication. The suitability of the procedure was a sensitive predictor for abnormal endoscopic and histopathological findings. Conclusions Abdominal pain is the most common indication for upper endoscopy in our population. It is associated with a higher chance of abnormal endoscopy. Concordance between endoscopic and histopathological findings is not high. Normal endoscopic findings shouldn`t discourage the endoscopist from obtaining tissue biopsies. Considering more biopsies may improve pathological detection rates. Compliance with established endoscopy guidelines may reduce unnecessary procedures.

Introduction: Foreign body ingestion is common in children. Most accidental ingestions are passed spontaneously without intervention. Some cases of ingestion require intervention in a timely fashion to reduce risks and morbidities.Aim: To analyse the clinical presentation, aetiology, and outcome of children presenting with foreign body ingestion, who required endoscopic intervention at a tertiary hospital

Objectives: In order to study helicobacter pylori infection in children with chronic dyspepsia in respect to prevalence, endoscopic and histological findings. Methods: A total of 163 dyspeptic children (below the age of 14 years) were included in this prospective study over two years duration in Prince Rashid Bin Al-Hassan military hospital in Irbid in North of Jordan. All those children underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and helicobacter pylori infection was detected histopathologically from gastric biopsies. Results: Helicobacter pylori chronic gastritis was found in 82% of patients. Normal endoscopy was shown in 47% of the helicobacter pylori positive patients. The most common endoscopic finding was antral nodularity (38%) which significantly indicated helicobacter pylori infection. Prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection increased with age but it showed no significant difference with sex. Conclusion: The prevalence of helicobacter pylori infection was frequent in dyspeptic children presenting to our hospital. Although some endoscopic findings such as gastric antral hyperemia and nodularity significantly indicated helicobacter pylori infection, biopsies are mandatory to confirm diagnosis and to rule out the infection in normal upper endoscopies.

Introduction: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder manifested by symptoms of impaired esophageal function and hypereosinophilic esophageal inflammation. It is believed that the number of patients being diagnosed globally is increasing.Aim: To describe the frequency and clinicopathological features of EoE in Jordanian children.Material and methods: A retrospective review of all paediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis diagnosed and followed up at our paediatric gastroenterology service at King Abdullah University Hospital between January 2015 and January 2020.Results: During the study period, 21 patients were diagnosed with EoE out of 700 diagnostic endoscopic procedures. Only 1 (4.8%) female was diagnosed. The average age at presentation was 9.5 years (age range: 1-16 years). The most common manifestation was solid food dysphagia (15, 71.4%), followed by food impaction and vomiting (11, 52.4% and 6, 28.6%, respectively). Atopy was diagnosed in 10 (47.6%) patients. Four (19.0%) had food allergy, 3 (14.3%) had respiratory allergy, and 3 (14.3%) had combined. Linear furrows and circular rings were the most common endoscopic features -17 (81.0%) and 10 (47.6%), respectively, while papillary elongation, basal zone hyperplasia, and eosinophilic infiltrate were the most common reported histopathological features. Almost all patients received proton pump inhibitors (19, 90.5%). Steroids were used in 18 (85.7%) patients; local steroids in 11 (52.4%), and oral steroids in 7 (33.3%). Out of the 4 (19%) patients with esophageal strictures, 2 (9.5%) required pneumatic dilatation.Conclusions: Eosinophilic esophagitis is not uncommon in our community. Clinical and histological parameters point to delayed referral and diagnosis. Increasing awareness of this problem will lead to early diagnosis and will decrease complications.