Gastrointestinal malacoplakia in children

Four children, whose ages ranged from 1 to 13 years, with malacoplakia of the gastrointestinal tract were treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital between 1979 and 1983. All patients had either a preceding or a coexisting chronic illness. In one patient, malacoplakia was an incidental finding, while the remaining three patients presented with bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, recurrent fever, and severe malnutrition. Colonoscopy in two patients revealed markedly inflamed and friable mucosa with focal ulceration alternating with patches of normal mucosa and pseudopolyposis. They were treated with antibiotics and cholinergic agonists. Three patients responded favorably, while one patient continued to have extensive active disease. Although the response to therapy is unpredictable, patients may respond if the treatment is continued on a long-term basis.