ABSTRACT
Limited colonoscopy is extremely well tolerated by children of any age, pediatric colonoscopes being thinner than an examining little finger. Without either sedation or bowel preparation, it is possible to inspect, photograph, and obtain biopsy or other specimens from the rectosigmoid as part of the initial assessment of symptomatic patients. Since more extensive colonoscopy requires both full bowel preparation and some form of sedation, it is reserved for selected patients, usually those with failure to thrive or weight loss, chronic diarrhea, anemia, bleeding, and when there is radiologic abnormality (e.g., narrowed terminal ileal abnormality on small bowel follow-through) or a need for therapy (e.g., Peutz-Jeghers polyposis).
