Gastrointestinal bleeding in the pediatric patient.

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage in infants and children is a catastrophic event but is not associated with significant mortality except in those with a severe primary illness. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding in infants and young children is most often associated with stress ulcers or erosions, but in older children it may also be caused by duodenal ulcer, esophagitis, and esophageal varices. Lower gastrointestinal bleeding may be caused by a variety of lesions among which are infectious colitides, Meckel's diverticulum, bleeding disorders, gastrointestinal allergy, and inflammatory bowel disease. Techniques of diagnosis and management are discussed.