John W., 13

John is a 13-year-old Grade 8 pupil and the eldest of six children. His family of eight lives in a two-room mud house with a leaking roof, no electricity and water obtained from a stream over 30 minutes away. His father, the sole breadwinner, works as a cane cutter earning about KSh 2,500 monthly. Despite these hardships, John is hardworking, enjoys reading and football, and dreams of becoming a lawyer. John had experienced worsening weakness, dizziness, easy fatigue and recurrent burning upper abdominal pain for two weeks. Despite previous treatment with omeprazole for suspected peptic ulcer disease, his condition deteriorated. Five days before admission, he developed black stools (melena) and vomiting of blood (haematemesis), accompanied by poor appetite and increasing pallor. At hospital, he was critically ill, markedly weak and pale and was diagnosed with severe anaemia secondary to blood loss from a bleeding peptic ulcer. He required urgent admission to control the gastrointestinal bleeding and correct the anaemia. As his family could not afford the necessary inpatient care and medication, he was referred to Helpster Charity Foundation for financial support.

John presented critically unwell with haematemesis, melena, marked pallor, weakness and severe anaemia from a bleeding peptic ulcer. This is a serious condition requiring urgent admission to control the bleeding, correct anaemia, stabilize circulation and treat the underlying ulcer. Significant untreated bleeding may lead to shock and organ injury. With prompt treatment, appropriate monitoring and control of the ulcer and bleeding, John’s prognosis is favourable, although follow-up is essential to prevent recurrence.