Juvenile polyposis in an Ethiopian family.

An 8-year-old boy from Arsi, central Ethiopia, seen at Tikur Anbessa Hospital, a tertiary and teaching hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a history of protruding mass per anum during straining at defecation and micturition and rectal bleeding of 12 months, diagnosed to have juvenile polyposis is presented The condition was complicated by severe anemia and hypoproteinemia. Following abdominal surgery (subtotal colectomy, ileoproctostomy and proctoscopic diathermy of rectal polyps) and supportive measures, the bleeding stopped and his general condition improved His father and two of his three siblings were also proved to have colonic polyposis, earlier. Clinical presentation, investigations, intra-operative and histologic findings, and prognosis are discussed with background literature review.