Children

Abstract

Data on basal and maximal gastric acid secretion in normal children are limited, but consistent; there are even fewer data on children with duodenal ulcer (table 21.1). Investigators in various centres have attempted to elicit maximal acid output in children by using those parenteral doses of histamine acid phosphate (40 µg/kg) and pentagastrin (6 µg/kg) which are known to produce maximal secretory output in adults. For obvious reasons dose-response studies with repeated tests on the same subject have not been attempted in children. Histalog can be given only in a submaximal dose of 1 mg/kg, because 1.5 mg/kg produces flushing, irritability and borborygmi.¹¹