Acute and chronic gastric ulcers in an infant.

The possible occurrence of peptic ulcers in infancy should be borne in mind when a masic infant fails to improve although there is not sufficient evidence of an infection in the gastro-intestinal ract. Franklin (1942) describes well the puzzling gastrointestinal symptoms in this type of case. Guthrie (1942), in a report on cases with a review of the literature, states that marasmus is the condition most fiequently associated with peptic ulcers in infants past the neonatal period. This case is reported because few have so far been described in this country; Paterson (1922), reporting on two cases, states that in the previous twenty years there was only one case in the literature. In the present case it is of some interest that during the life of the infant peptic ulceration was recognized as being the most probable diagnosis; and treatment to promote healing was instituted without, however, a successful result.