ABSTRACT
Rectal bleeding is a common complaint in children and is the most common indication for colonoscopy in our unit in pediatric department, liver institute. The aim of this study is to report the most common cause of this finding in children. All children below 16 years of age, with bleeding per rectum, were subjected to medical, pathological examination and all children underwent colonoscopy. This study was done in the period from 2003 to 2005 [3 years], in liver institute for evaluation of the etiology of bleeding per rectum. The results showed that 40 children presented with bleeding per rectum, which is accounting for about 90% of the indications for colonoscopy. The age range was from 2.5 to 14 years, and the male to female ratio was 1:1. There were 13 [32.5%] children below 6 years and 22 [55%] between 6-12 years and just 5 [12.5%] children above 12 years. The causes of bleeding per rectum are presented and indicating that juvenile polyp is the most common cause 35/40 [87.5%], followed by inflammatory polyps in 3/40 [7.5%]; whereas, chronic colitis rectal ulcers were rarely presented, age-related analysis shows polyps frequent in all ages. Rectal juvenile polyp is the most common cause of bleeding per rectum in children. Rectal juvenile polyp is almost commonly associated with chronic nonspecific colitis not bleeding in touch