Rectal bleeding in infants: diagnostic work-up and management

Abstract: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding is an alarming symptom in pediatrics, especially in in- fancy. However, it is commonly secondary to benign and self-limiting conditions, such as anal fis- sures, infections, and allergies; more rarely it is caused by more serious disorders, such as necrotiz- ing enterocolitis, very early onset inflammatory bowel diseases, and vascular malformations. The present review aims at summarizing the different clinical conditions presenting with rectal bleeding in infancy and provides an evidence-based diagnostic work-up for the clinical management of patients with this occurrence.