Gastroenterology: the first 40 years

Abstract

Table 1. Diagnostic breakdown of total number of patients aged 40 years and under referred during survey period.testinal symptoms presenting in middle age or over. and care should be exercised before undertaking investigations in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms aged 40 years and below,We have analysed our survey material to assess the range of organic gastrointestinal disorders occurring in patients of up to 40 years of age. referred to our combined clinic, The relative frequency of the various diagnoses encountered and which in-Summary Functional gastroenterological disorders were diagnosed in over 50 per cent of patients aged 40 years and under, referred to a district general hospital combined gastroenterology clinic, Peptic ulceration, gastro-oesophageal reflux, biliary tract disease and inflammatory bowel disease accounted for almost 70 per cent ofthe organic disorders encountered, Malignant disease was rare, The implications for diagnostic investigation in this age group are discussed,