Solitary Juvenile Polyp at a Rural Ugandan Hospital Presenting with Recurrent Rectal Bleeding

Abstract

Juvenile polyps (JP) are rare but important causes of acute gastrointestinal symptoms in children. They are a recognized cause of painless rectal bleeding in preschool age children and also the most common intraluminal disorder of the colon in children They are often solitary, pedunculated and small in size but may occasionally grow to large sizes or occur in great numbers, as in juvenile polyposis syndrome. Histologically juvenile polyps are similar to inflammatory polyps with irregular dilated glands, lamina propria expansion and granulation tissue expansion. Sporadic juvenile polyps of the colon occur in up to 2 percent of children under the age of 10 years, are usually solitary, and are not associated with an increased cancer risk. The etiology, diagnosis, clinical presentation, and management of these intestinal polyps depend on the type of polyp or polyposis syndrome. A change in bowel habits, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, rectal prolapse, and even intussusception may be the initial presentation in children. In addition to a careful history, including a detailed family history, a physical examination, contrast studies, and endoscopic examination are vital diagnostic tools. Juvenile polyps may also present with prolapse of the polyp from the anus, abdominal pain due to intussusception or may even be asymptomatic. All such polyps should be removed by colonoscopy or transanal resection