Colonoscopy in children with bleeding per rectum.

There are few reports of colonoscopy in children. Twenty-six children with bleeding per rectum were examined colonoscopically to determine the aetiology of the bleeding. A total of 32 colonoscopies were performed. Except for 5 children who needed general anaesthesia, all the rest were performed with pethidine and diazepam sedation. The mean age of these 26 children was 63.5 months (SD 57.5 months, range 2 weeks to 180 months). Ten children had histologically confirmed colitis. Five had bleeding juvenile polyps and these were removed endoscopically. One had lymphoid hyperplasia and one had chronic solitary sigmoid ulcer. The rest were normal. It is concluded that colonoscopy can be performed safely in children and it is a good diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.