[Hemorrhagic colitis in exclusively breast-fed infants]

Abstract

Introduction: Authors report clinical, biological and endoscopic data of six children aged less 3 months with bloody stools while they were exclusively breast-fed.

Results: Two girls and four boys aged 1 to 2 months presented with isolated but recurrent rectal bleeding. All were explored by fiberoptic rectosigmoidoscopy between 1 and 3,2 months. Macroscopic aspects were congestion (6 cases), petechial and ecchymotic (4 cases), with normal mucosal areas (5 cases). Histopathology showed eosinophilic infiltrates in all 5 children with rectal biopsy. Evolution was satisfactory after cow's milk protein exclusion in maternal diet for five children and after weaning in 1. All children were weaned with protein hydrolysate. Cow's milk protein were later introduced without adverse reactions at 6 to 23 months.

Conclusion: Food allergy can be considered in proctocolitis including exclusive breast-fed children. Evolution after maternal diet is, as usual, simple.