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Causes of Colon Polyps in Infants

Colon polyps in infants can stem from genetic conditions. The polyps occur when there is a growth on the surface of the colon, a part of the large intestine, that arises from the bowel wall. The large intestine is at the end of the digestive tract and absorbs water to produce waste products, which then pass out of the body.

Many colon polyps in infants are not cancerous, but others are or have the potential to become cancerous. Polyps are normally flat or raised. Flat polyps are often harder, smaller and have an increased chance of becoming cancerous.

  1. Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

    • Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an inherited colorectal cancer. There is often a mutation of a gene that causes cancer to develop in the large intestine and rectum. The disease may become active in infancy. Symptoms include blood in bowel movements, diarrhea or pain in the abdomen, however some infants show no physical symptoms or digestive problems.

      According to the Mayo Clinic website, FAP occurs in about one in every 6,000 children, which makes it the most common genetic cause of polyps. For those with FAP, they can have hundreds or thousands of polyps, which can be fatal if left undiagnosed.

    Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome

    • Juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) is an inherited condition that affects the digestive tract and may be evident in infants. Those with JPS may or may not develop polyps or could have hundreds of polyps, which may or may not be cancerous. Those with JPS require regular follow-up and colonoscopy to ensure that polyps are removed in the early stages of development to reduce the risk for cancer.

    Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome

    • Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) not only involves polyps but also macules, or changes in skin pigmentation most commonly seen on the lips, mouth, nostrils, hands, feet and genitals. PJS involves a high cancer rate. The skin pigmentation is normally not present at birth, but can develop in early infancy. Some infants with PJS suffer from cramps, vomiting and bowel obstruction.

    Colon Polyps in Infants and Inflammation

    • Some colon polyps develop because of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis or other diseases that cause inflammation. In this case, the polyps are normally not problematic. Infants with Crohn's or ulcerative colitis often experience painful cramping, nausea and diarrhea.

    Symptoms of Colon Polyps in Infants

    • Many parents of infants with colon polyps do not know their babies have them unless symptoms are present. Possible symptoms are bleeding from the anus, constipation or diarrhea, or blood in an infant's stool. Consult a pediatrician if your infant experiences any of these symptoms, as it may signal polyps.

    Diagnosis of Colon Polyps in Infants

    • A physician may evaluate the infant's family history and evaluate her genetics to determine what markers are present for cancer or other health conditions. There are several methods for testing for colon polyps. When a physician suspects that an infant has colon polyps, he normally chooses minimally invasive procedures first.

      A barium enema involves feeding the infant a barium solution prior to taking X-rays. Images are taken of the infant's large intestine, which appears white from the effects of the barium. If polyps are present in the infant's intestinal tract, they will show up on the X-rays as dark areas.

      A sigmoidoscopy is a test in which a flexible tube with a light is inserted into the infant's rectum. A doctor uses the scope to look at a small portion of the large intestine to see whether colon polyps are present.

      A colonscopy allows the doctor to look at the infant's colon via a a camera that's attached to a tube and fed into the large intestine. Anesthesia is used for sedation during the procedure. The images are transferred to a monitor. The tube also has a tool to remove polyps found during the procedure.

      A computerized tomography (CT) scan is a machine that can create images of the infant's colon. A flexible tube is inserted into the rectum and displays pictures of the intestine on a computer screen. Although this is similar to a colonoscopy, polyps cannot be removed during this test.

      Stool tests are used to test for signs of cancer, review DNA and monitor changes in the blood.

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