Colonoscopy In Children: Should Or Should Not?

A colonoscopy is a procedure that involves putting a flexible plastic tube with a camera and light on the tip of the tube to look at the internal structures of the colon. This is a very effective procedure for detecting abnormalities in the colon and colonoscopy is also used to treat abnormalities such as polyps. However, with young children this method is completely safe? Please refer to the following article.
Why do children need colonoscopy?
Doctors will recommend a colonoscopy when a child has suspected gastrointestinal disease such as ulcers, bleeding, polyps, foreign bodies, and infections. Some common reasons are as follows:
Bloody diarrhea;
Persistent unexplained diarrhea;
Anemia of unknown etiology;
Lesions around the anus (fistula, abscess

...);
Suspected colorectal lesions;
Suspect colorectal polyps;
Suspected inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or bleeding colitis);
Foreign body colorectal area
Endoscopy helps doctors see clearly the mucosal lesions in the heart of the rectum that tests like ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan .



.. cannot be investigated. From there, the doctor can observe the abnormalities happening inside the intestine to diagnose the digestive disease most accurately and provide the most appropriate treatment for the child.
Colonoscopy is painless, and most children can go home the day after the colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy is done like?
The child will be under general anesthetic and will sleep during the scan.
The doctor will insert the scope from the anus into the child's rectum and colon to observe and take abnormal pictures In addition, the doctor may take very small pieces of tissue (called a biopsy) to perform further tests.




Some cases can be treated with laparoscopy, such as polyps, hemostasis or foreign body removal.
Endoscopy time: 20 - 30 minutes depending on the case.
At the end of the colonoscopy, the child will wake up shortly and have almost no discomfort. However, children need to be monitored at the hospital for at least 2 hours to ensure safety. The doctor will examine the baby again before discharge or leave the hospital for follow-up if needed.
The case should not endoscopy
Colonic endoscopy is a very effective and necessary method to detect the disease status and level. However, there are also cases where children should not use this method as:
- When a child is having a fever or has a cold, there is no endoscopy.
- When the baby's medical condition cannot tolerate anesthesia and screening such as: respiratory failure, infection.




- When your baby has peritonitis, severe colitis or when they have just undergone colon surgery, this method is not used.
When children have a cold or high fever should not endoscopy
Does colonoscopy in children have any dangerous complications?
Colonoscopy is very common and quite safe.
However, this procedure is more difficult and more complicated than upper gastroscopy because the lower gastrointestinal tract is long and has angled sections.
In addition, any procedure has a number of risks, and depends on the health of the child.
Allergic reactions to anesthetic, inhalation, biopsy bleeding, polyps, infection and intestinal perforation are very rare.
Usually, the gastroenterologist and anesthesiologist will carefully examine the child before deciding to perform colonoscopy to ensure the safest for the child during the procedure.
What to prepare when conducting colonoscopy for children
For the colonoscopy to be successful and successful, parents need to accompany the baby to have a thorough mental preparation, willpower, health, nutrition, and previous procedures. endoscopy required by the doctor
- 7 days before the colonoscopy: Parents should stop having iron-containing medicines.



Other medicines can be used normally until the day of colonoscopy, but to be assured, parents need to talk with their doctor about this issue.
- 3 days before endoscopy: parents should abstain from seed foods such as tomatoes, cucumbers and nuts. Abstain from canned beverages, carbonated beverages, and stimulant-related beverages such as milk tea, should only use filtered water during this time.
- 1 day before colonoscopy: All foods must be complied with the time specified by the doctor in the appointment. Do not eat foods high in fiber.
- The day of colonoscopy: to ensure the baby's intestines are clean for the colonoscopy, the doctor will give an enema to push out the debris out, preventing them from obscuring the view during the colonoscopy. Or your doctor may ask your child to take laxatives in pill or liquid form.
Notes on nutrition before colonoscopy
- Before the colonoscopy, parents should not give their children solid, solid foods that contain lots of fiber such as cereals, nuts, bread, vegetables, meat, etc.




- Do not drink milk, orange juice, pineapple juice.
- Use clear and light drinks like water, clear broth, apple juice, white grape juice.
The process of conducting endoscopy
General examination
General examination before endoscopy for children such as body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate.

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