Patient's question:
My daughter is 5 years old and often has blood-like substances in her stool. However, barium enema did not reveal any issues, and surgical examination was also normal. First follow-up question: It doesn't hurt, and colonoscopy hasn't been done. What is the most ideal examination method? How serious is this condition?Doctor's answer:
Hematochezia in children can occur at any age stage from birth to adulthood. The most common causes are intestinal polyps and congenital anomalies of intestinal development. Different diseases may manifest hematochezia at different age stages. In school-aged and preschool children, delayed diagnosis and treatment of the primary disease causing hematochezia often lead to severe complications such as intestinal obstruction and intestinal perforation. This can affect the physical and mental health of children as well as their academic performance. The key to identifying the cause and location of hematochezia is to perform a fiber colonoscopy (commonly referred to as a colonoscopy). The advantages of this examination method include direct visualization to identify the cause, locating the bleeding site, and achieving hemostasis and treatment simultaneously. Our pediatric surgery department has been performing colonoscopies for over ten years, examining hundreds of children without any incidents.