What are the symptoms of anal atresia in newborns?

Anal atresia in newborns will show symptoms such as inability to defecate, abdominal distension and even vomiting after birth. Parents need to be highly vigilant because this is a congenital disease that usually requires medical treatment as soon as possible and correction through surgery.

Anal atresia is a congenital digestive tract malformation caused by abnormal embryonic development, which results in the absence of the external anus of the newborn or its failure to connect with the rectum, making it impossible to defecate normally. The main manifestation is that the newborn has not excreted meconium within 24 hours after birth (delayed meconium), which may be accompanied by abdominal distension and reflux of gastric contents. In extremely severe cases, it may also cause toxins to accumulate in the child's body, leading to metabolic disorders and systemic infection risks. The disease can be divided into different degrees such as low type (thin interval between the rectum and the perineum), medium type (thick tissue interval), and high type (farther interval between the rectum and the perineum). These classifications directly affect the subsequent treatment plan. In some cases, other congenital abnormalities of the urogenital system or spine may also exist, requiring a comprehensive evaluation before surgery.

The treatment of anal atresia in newborns requires a personalized plan based on the severity. Common treatments include the following methods: For the low-position type, doctors usually perform anoplasty under anesthesia to repair the connection between the anus and the rectum; for the middle and high-position types, staged surgery is required. First, ostomy is used to clear the defecation path, and then anal reconstruction surgery is performed after the child grows up and the condition stabilizes; if there are more accompanying deformities, multidisciplinary collaborative treatment may also be required. Postoperative care is also very critical, especially in terms of surgical incision care, prevention of infection, and continuous observation of the recovery of defecation function. Special attention should also be paid to postoperative dietary conditioning. Newborns can gradually transition from digestive fluids to normal feeding, and at the same time, appropriate probiotics can be supplemented to promote intestinal function recovery.

For parents, the most important thing is to stay calm and quickly send the child to the hospital for professional diagnosis and treatment. If conditions permit, ultrasound and other examination methods can be used to understand the fetal development during the prenatal examination stage to detect abnormalities as early as possible and prepare countermeasures in advance. In the face of neonatal anal atresia, comprehensive postoperative care, regular follow-up and psychological counseling cannot be ignored, so that the child can grow up healthily both physically and mentally.