Rectal bleeding in children – causes and investigations

Rectal bleeding in children is an alarming symptom which can lead to significant parental anxiety. Mostly the causes are benign and self-limiting however sometimes a lower GI bleed may be due to a significant pathology or can lead to life-threatening haemorrhage. Hence it requires careful assessment and appropriate investigations, taking into account the age of the child and the nature of the bleed. This review covers common causes and investigations of rectal bleeding in children.