Increasing Pediatricians' Awareness of the Association between Anal Skin Tags and Earlier Diagnosis of Crohn's Disease.

OBJECTIVE:To seek the habits of pediatricians by which anorectal skin tags (AST) of Crohn's disease might be overlooked. METHODS:Questionnaires were sent to pediatricians affiliated with the Northwell Health System. RESULTS:Based on the responses, the majority of pediatricians did feel the abdomen of children presenting with abdominal pain or diarrhea but did not spread the buttocks to seek the presence of AST unless there was rectal pain, rectal bleeding, or, in some cases, loose stools. CONCLUSIONS:The diagnosis of Crohn's disease could be made earlier when asymptomatic AST are searched for in children with gastrointestinal symptoms.