Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

  Background and Objectives : Early and on time diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal bleeding is essential due to different treatable etiologies and prevention of complications. The aim of this study was to detect the etiologies of LGI bleeding in children referred to Kerman Hospital of Afzalipour.

  Material and Methods : This descriptive-prospective study was performed on 138 children with painless rectal bleeding admitted in Afzalipoor Hospital (from 2005 till 2007). The patients underwent colonoscopy by a pediatric gatroenterlogist. The colonscope passed into the splenic flexture, if polyp was detceted, polypectomy was done, and unless, two biopsies were taken from apparently intact mucusae and also any pathologic process on desceding colon and rectosigmoid.

  Results : Etiology of lower gastrointestinal bleeding was detected in 87.7% of patients. Majority of the participants (62.3%) were male. The most common symptom (63%) was hematochezia. The most frequent endoscopic (41.3%) and pathologic finding (50.7%) was colitis. The three major etiologies of bleeding were allergic colitis (24.6% ), polyp (23.2% ), and inflammatory bowel disease (17.4% ). While allergic colitis (1.8 times) and polyp (3.5 times) were more common in boys, inflammatory bowel disease was common in girls (1.4 times).

  Conclusion : The results of this study showed that the prevalence of allergic colitis and inflammatory bowel disease were higher than findings from similar studies.

  Key words : Allergic colitis, Lower gastrointestinal bleeding, Polyp, Inflammatory bowel disaese, Children

  Funding : This study was funded by Kerman Univercity of Medical Sciences.

  Conflict of interest : Non declared.

  Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Kerman Univercity of Medical Sciences approved the study.