Epidemiological Findings of Colon Biopsies in Children with Gastrointestinal Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study in the West of Iran

Abstract

Background:

Despite the increasing prevalence of inflammatory gastrointestinal (GI) diseases in children, accurate data on the prevalence of colitis and its histopathological findings in Iran, particularly in the West, are lacking. The present study aimed to address this gap by analyzing epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological data from colon tissue biopsy samples in children.

Materials and Methods:

This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 600 pathology slides from colon biopsies of patients referred to Dr. Mohammad Kermanshahi Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran, from 2016 to 2021, who presented with GI symptoms and were diagnosed by a pediatric gastroenterologist. The samples were examined and diagnosed histologically by the pathologist.

Results:

Allergic colitis accounted for the highest frequency (77.5%) among colitis cases under 6 months. Colitis was slightly more prevalent in boys than in girls (55.3%). The highest frequency of colitis was in the 5-12-year age group (40.5%), and patients under 1 year had the lowest frequency (9.16%). The most reported symptom was rectorrhagia (71.83%), and the most common colonoscopy finding was increased vascular pattern and mucosal nodularity (43.1%).

Conclusion:

When approaching children with GI symptoms, especially rectorrhagia, allergic colitis should be at the top of the list, which is prevalent under 6 months and decreases with age.