Causes of hematochezia and hemorrhagic antibiotic-associated colitis in children and adolescents

Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Aug;96(33):e7793. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007793.

Abstract

Diseases causing hematochezia range from benign to potentially life-threatening. Systematic pediatric data on the causes of hematochezia are scarce. We studied the underlying causes and long-term outcome of hematochezia in children. We further investigated the relevance of antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic colitis in children, especially if caused by Klebsiella oxytoca.Infants, children, and adolescents with hematochezia were recruited prospectively. Patients were grouped according to age (<1 year, 1-5 years, 6-13 years, >14 years). In addition to routine diagnostics, K oxytoca stool culture and toxin analysis was performed. We collected data on history, laboratory findings, microbiological diagnostic, imaging, final diagnosis, and long-term outcome.We included 221 patients (female 46%; age 0-19 years). In 98 (44%), hematochezia was caused by infectious diseases. Endoscopy was performed in 30 patients (13.6%). No patient died due to the underlying cause of hematochezia. The most common diagnoses according to age were food protein-induced proctocolitis in infants, bacterial colitis in young children, and inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents. Seventeen (7.7%) had a positive stool culture for K oxytoca. Antibiotic-associated colitis was diagnosed in 12 (5%) patients: 2 caused by K oxytoca and 2 by Clostridium difficile; in the remaining 8 patients, no known pathobiont was identified.Infections were the most common cause of hematochezia in this study. In most patients, invasive diagnostic procedures were not necessary. Antibiotic-associated hemorrhagic colitis caused by K oxytoca was an uncommon diagnosis in our cohort. Antibiotic-associated colitis with hematochezia might be caused by pathobionts other than C difficile or K oxytoca.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enterocolitis / complications*
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / etiology
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / microbiology
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Klebsiella Infections / complications
  • Klebsiella oxytoca / isolation & purification
  • Male
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents