Many Young People Hospitalised for Emergency Treatment Due to Stomach Bleeding at Year’s End
In the last month of 2025 alone, the Endoscopy Department of People’s Hospital 115 recorded 40 cases of gastrointestinal bleeding caused by gastric and duodenal ulcers. Notably, nearly 18% of these patients were under the age of 35.
Gastrointestinal bleeding from peptic ulcers has long been considered a condition affecting mainly older adults, often linked to alcohol use, smoking, and years of physical strain. However, emergency endoscopy data now reveal a more alarming reality: severe ulcer bleeding is increasingly appearing in very young patients — even among students.
Many young patients continue their daily routines — studying and working — until they suddenly develop fatigue, dizziness, or low blood pressure due to blood loss. What was once seen as an “elderly disease” is now becoming a broader public health concern.
Youngest Patients in Critical Condition
According to hospital data released on February 15, among the 40 recorded cases, seven patients were under 35. The youngest patient was just 16 years old. All young patients were admitted in critical condition with severe bleeding and required emergency endoscopic hemostasis.
One particularly concerning case involved a 16-year-old diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease who required urgent endoscopic intervention after severe gastric and duodenal bleeding.
Another case involved a 20-year-old patient whose irregular eating habits — frequently skipping meals and maintaining an unhealthy lifestyle — silently damaged the stomach lining. By the time of hospitalisation, the condition had progressed to a bleeding duodenal ulcer requiring emergency treatment.
A 30-year-old patient represented a typical example of stress-related illness. Prolonged work pressure, mental stress, and irregular meals contributed to ulcer formation and eventual gastrointestinal bleeding that required emergency endoscopic care.
Causes and Risk Factors
Doctors warn that gastrointestinal bleeding among young people is not random. Key contributing factors include:
- Irregular lifestyles
- Skipping meals
- Chronic stress
- Unhealthy diets
These factors gradually damage the gastric and duodenal mucosa, creating conditions for ulcers and dangerous complications.
Early Symptoms Often Ignored
Before severe complications occur, many patients experience mild or vague symptoms such as:
- Epigastric pain
- Heartburn
- Bloating
- Fatigue
Because these signs resemble common digestive discomfort, they are often ignored.
If left undetected and untreated, the condition can worsen, leading to:
- Black stools
- Severe dizziness
- Fainting
- Emergency hospitalisation due to blood loss
Medical Advice
Doctors recommend seeking medical attention and undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy as soon as symptoms appear. Endoscopy not only enables accurate diagnosis but also plays a crucial role in controlling active bleeding.
Early detection of ulcers allows timely treatment, limits disease progression, and helps prevent life-threatening complications.
