Duodenal perforation in stress ulcer in a pediatric patient: Case report

Stress ulcers are rare in pediatric patients but can lead to severe, life-threatening complications. We report the case of a 2-year-old boy admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress, who developed a sudden duodenal perforation during hospitalization. Despite emergency surgery, the outcome was fatal due to rapid progression to septic shock. The diagnosis was delayed, likely due to masked symptoms under deep sedation, and no gastrointestinal risk factors were identified. The absence of prophylactic treatment for stress ulcers may have contributed to the severity of the complication. This case highlights the need for routine gastrointestinal monitoring and prophylaxis protocols in critically ill children to help prevent such outcomes.