Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
Induction of Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of CBir1 TCR Transgenic CD4+ T Cells to Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: December 16, 2021
Microscopic colitis in children with chronic diarrhea
Prashant Singh1, Prasenjit Das, A K Jain
1Department of Pediatrics, Center for Diarrheal Diseases and Nutrition Research, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Microscopic colitis (MC) was identified in children experiencing chronic diarrhea. This condition, characterized by specific mucosal biopsy changes, warrants further investigation into its prevalence in pediatric populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Gastrointestinal Pathology
Background:
- Chronic diarrhea in children can be challenging to diagnose.
- Microscopic colitis (MC) is an underrecognized cause of chronic diarrhea.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of microscopic colitis in children with chronic diarrhea.
- To analyze mucosal biopsy changes associated with MC in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- 100 children (3-12 years) with chronic nonbloody diarrhea were screened.
- Colonoscopies and colonic biopsies were performed to identify lymphocytic colitis or collagenous colitis.
- Biopsies were compared between children with MC, chronic diarrhea without MC, and those with rectal bleeding.
Main Results:
- Microscopic colitis was diagnosed in 5 of 26 children with chronic diarrhea (3 lymphocytic colitis, 2 collagenous colitis).
- Children with MC showed significantly higher polymorphonuclear infiltration compared to control groups.
- Increased intraepithelial lymphocytes and basement membrane thickening were observed in MC patients.
Conclusions:
- Microscopic colitis is a relevant diagnosis in children presenting with chronic nonbloody diarrhea.
- Further multicenter studies are needed to establish the prevalence of pediatric microscopic colitis.
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to study microscopic colitis (MC) in children with special reference to its role in chronic diarrhea and changes in mucosal biopsies.
Methods:
A total of 100 consecutive children ages 3 to 12 years, with nonbloody diarrhea (passage of ≥3 loose stools per day) of >12 weeks' duration were screened and 26 were enrolled in the study in which no specific etiology could be found and colonoscopy did not reveal any mucosal abnormality. Colonic biopsies were evaluated for the presence of lymphocytic colitis or collagenous colitis and those with the characteristic changes were defined to have MC (group A). Colonic biopsies from patients with MC were compared with biopsies from patients with chronic diarrhea but no evidence of MC (group B). One hundred children ages 3 to 12 years with bleeding per rectum were screened and colonic biopsies from 45 patients (group C) who had colonic mucosal changes but no vascular or polyp lesion were compared with patients with MC.
Results:
Of the 26 patients with chronic diarrhea, MC was found in 5 (3 lymphocytic colitis and 2 collagenous colitis). Significantly higher polymorphonuclear infiltration was seen in group A as compared with group B (13.8 [5.4-20.6] vs 7.2 [0-19.6]; P = 0.03) or group C (13.8 [5.4-20.6] vs 4 [0-13.4]; P = 0.007). Intraepithelial lymphocytes (12 [4-32] vs 4 [0-24]; P = 0.008) and basement membrane thickening (3.5 [2.9-10.6] vs 2.5 [1.6-5.86]; P = 0.008) were also significantly higher in group A as compared with group C.
Conclusions:
MC was found to be present in children with nonbloody chronic diarrhea in children. Further multicentric studies may provide adequate data on its prevalence.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease