Rectal bleeding in Egyptian children.
OBJECTIVE
In a prospective study to outline the aetiology of bleeding per rectum (BPR) in Egyptian infants and children, a subsidiary aim was to define some of the clinical characteristics of the different aetiologies.


METHODS
194 children with BPR are described. The diagnostic work-up included laboratory investigations, radiological and endoscopic assessment, radio-isotope scanning, angiography and histopathological examination of mucosal biopsies, as appropriate.


RESULTS
Ages ranged from 3 to 192 months with a mean (SD) of 49.8 (43.5). Infectious enterocolitis was the most common cause (37.1%). Others included colorectal polyps (21.1%), chronic colitis (16%) including inflammatory bowel diseases (5.2%), allergic colitis (2.6%), solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (1.5%) and non-specific colitis (6.7%). Intussusception and Meckel's diverticulae were the cause in 7.3% and 2.6%, respectively, while other aetiologies included vascular (6.2%), systemic (3.6%), local anal (3.1%) and upper gastro-intestinal causes (1.5%). In 1.5% of cases, the cause remained 'obscure'.


CONCLUSIONS
In Egyptian children, infectious enterocolitis followed by colorectal polyps and chronic colitis are major causes of BPR.
El-Khayat
Hamed A
HA
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
El-Hodhod
Mostafa A
MA
Abd El-Basset
Fatma Z
FZ
Tomoum
Hoda Y
HY
El-Safory
Hisham A
HA
Hamdy
Ahmed M
AM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003092:Colitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum