Ulcerative Colitis in Children at Campus Teaching Hospital of Lome-Togo: A Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Introduction: Ulcerative colitis is one of the chronic inflammatory bowel diseases which, together with Crohn's disease. We aimed to report the first cases of ulcerative colitis in two children in Togo and describe their diagnostic and therapeutic course. Result: The first case concerned a 30-month-old infant brought in by his parents was admitted for glairo-sanguinous diarrhea that had been evolving for 13 months before the consultation. The parents consulted general practitioners and pediatricians on several occasions without success. Total colonoscopy with biopsies and their anatomopathological examination were in favor of ulcerative colitis. The blood test for ASCA was negative and for pANCA positive. The second case concerned a 12-year-old teenager accompanied by his mother and was seen in consultation for daily rectal bleeding evolving since the age of about 7 years, which sprays the toilet bowl regardless of the consistency of the stools. Total colonoscopy with biopsies and their anatomopathological examination noted a rectal mucosa with slight chronic inflammatory changes without specificity. The blood test for ASCA was negative and that of pANCA positive. The two patients were put on mesalamine with a good evolution under treatment. Conclusion: UC should be rapidly evoked in children and infants presenting symptoms such as rectal bleeding and chronic diarrhea in order to ensure early diagnosis and care.