What Are Common Gastrointestinal Polyposes in Children?

Discussion Bloody stools or blood in the diaper is a relatively common complaint in general pediatrics. For most patients it is often a minor concern. Commonly it is a transient problem (e.g. rectal fissure caused by constipation or trauma) or often not blood (e.g. urate crystals in the diaper, food, menses, etc.). Real blood does occur with an identifiable cause such as long distance running or heavy exercise, or milk protein allergy/sensitivity that improves with a milk-restricted diet. Many more serious causes are associated with heavier or more recalcitrant bleeding, increased defecation, abdominal pain, poor eating and other potential problems such as anemia. The differential diagnosis of upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding can be found here. The differential diagnosis of abdominal pain at different ages can be found here. Polyps are not a very common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding but do occur in the pediatric age group and can occur in infants and young children. Depending on the type of polyp, they can be benign or have a lifetime risk of cancer that reaches 100%. They can also be associated with other organ system tumors as well. Therefore it is important that a gastrointestinal specialist is involved in the patient’s initial and ongoing care. Decisions about surveillance and treatment vary depending on the type of polyp and its malignant potential. Screening for family members is also affected by the type of polyp discovered. Learning Point Gas...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news