Pediatric Rectal Prolapse: A Case Report

In the absence of preexisting conditions, rectal prolapse is rarely seen in children older than four years old. This case report presents a peculiar instance involving a previously healthy five-year-old female who presented to the clinic with her parents due to a three-day history of constipation, hard stools, and painful defecation. Physical examination revealed a rectal prolapse. Given the infrequency of rectal prolapse without underlying conditions in this age group, the patient was referred to a tertiary emergency department at the children's hospital to be evaluated by pediatric gastroenterology. Most rectal prolapse cases in children resolve without intervention; however, in children over the age of four, it may require surgery due to the likelihood of an underlying neurological or musculoskeletal condition. This case emphasizes the value of a thorough physical examination to detect the finding and stresses the importance of ruling out a more serious etiology.