Safe pediatric colonoscopy for children with blood in stool, chronic diarrhea or suspected IBD. Shishuka Children's Hospital, Bangalore. Expert gastroenterology care.
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A thorough, well-tolerated procedure that lets pediatric gastroenterologists directly examine your child's large intestine — providing definitive answers behind blood in stool, chronic diarrhoea, or suspected inflammatory bowel disease.
A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light at the tip is gently passed through the rectum to examine the entire length of the large intestine (colon), and often the very end of the small intestine as well. It allows pediatric gastroenterologists to directly see inflammation, bleeding, polyps or other abnormalities in the bowel lining, and take biopsies for laboratory analysis in the same sitting.
Performed under sedation or general anaesthesia in children, this is the most direct and reliable way to diagnose or rule out conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and unexplained rectal bleeding — conditions that blood tests and imaging alone often cannot confirm on their own.
A pediatric gastroenterologist may recommend this procedure if your child has:
Blood or mucus in the stool that hasn't been explained by other tests
Chronic diarrhoea lasting more than 2 to 4 weeks
Suspected inflammatory bowel disease based on symptoms or blood/stool markers
Unexplained weight loss or poor growth alongside bowel symptoms
Persistent abdominal pain with a suspected colonic cause
A family history of inflammatory bowel disease or colonic polyps
Depending on the suspected condition, a colonoscopy may include one or more of the following.
A complete examination of the colon lining to check for inflammation, ulceration, bleeding sites, or structural abnormalities.
Small, painless tissue samples taken from multiple sites along the colon, essential for confirming or distinguishing between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Examination of the terminal ileum, the last part of the small intestine, often included since this area is commonly affected in Crohn's disease.
If a polyp is found, it can often be removed in the same procedure using a small snare device, avoiding the need for a separate surgery.
Here's how colonoscopy compares to other investigations for lower digestive symptoms.
| Investigation | Invasiveness | Best For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colonoscopy | Minimally invasive, sedated | Direct visualisation & biopsy of the entire colon | Requires bowel prep & sedation; small procedural risk |
| Stool Calprotectin Test | Non-invasive | Screening for intestinal inflammation before deciding on colonoscopy | Cannot pinpoint the exact location or confirm the specific diagnosis |
| Abdominal MRI/CT (Enterography) | Non-invasive | Assessing the small intestine, which colonoscopy can't fully reach | Cannot take tissue biopsies |
| Blood Tests (CBC, CRP, ESR) | Minimally invasive | General screening for inflammation or anaemia | Non-specific; cannot confirm a bowel diagnosis alone |
A structured process where preparation matters as much as the procedure itself.
Your gastroenterologist reviews symptoms and history, explains the procedure, and an anaesthesia check-up confirms readiness for sedation.
The day before, your child follows a special diet and takes a prescribed bowel-cleansing solution so the colon is completely clear for an accurate examination — this step is essential to the test's success.
Performed under sedation or general anaesthesia, the colonoscope is gently passed to examine the colon and take biopsies as needed. The procedure typically takes 20–40 minutes.
Your child is monitored until fully awake, usually going home the same day. Biopsy results take about a week, and are reviewed together at a follow-up visit.
A thorough, carefully supervised procedure paired with clear guidance for the preparation that comes before it.
Specialists trained specifically in pediatric colonoscopy and interpreting bowel biopsy findings.
Step-by-step, family-friendly instructions to make the preparation day as manageable as possible.
Age-appropriate sedation planning that prioritises your child's comfort and safety throughout.
Tissue sampling and polyp removal handled in one visit wherever possible.
Consultations available across Kalyan Nagar, RT Nagar, Malleswaram and New BEL Road.
Most children recover quickly once sedation wears off, typically within an hour or two. Mild bloating, gas, or cramping is common in the first day as the bowel settles, and resolves on its own. Your child can usually eat normally again the same day, starting with light foods.
Biopsy results generally take about a week to process. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled to discuss findings in detail and outline next steps, whether that's medication, monitoring, or dietary changes.
Talk to our pediatric gastroenterology team about whether a colonoscopy is the right next step for your child.
“If you can't find the answer to your question here, please don't hesitate to contact our support team for assistance.”
Yes, it's well-established and routinely performed. Serious complications are rare, with close monitoring by an anaesthesia team.
It can be uncomfortable but is generally well tolerated with proper guidance and flavoured preparation options.
No, children receive sedation or general anaesthesia and feel nothing.
The procedure itself takes 20–40 minutes, though total hospital time is usually several hours.
