Symptoms of perianal abscess in children

Children's perianal abscess will show symptoms of redness, swelling, pain, lumps and even suppuration around the anus. Parents should identify these symptoms promptly and take their children to see a doctor to avoid delaying treatment and causing complications.

Perianal abscess is a common infectious disease in infants and young children. It is usually caused by bacterial infection of the anal glands. Its typical symptoms are redness, swelling, and fever of the skin around the anus. There are nodules or lumps when touched. The child will cry and be irritable, especially when defecating, and the pain will increase. If the infection worsens, suppuration may occur, local skin ruptures, and yellow or smelly secretions may flow out. Some children also have systemic symptoms such as fever or loss of appetite. For cases with mild early symptoms, the redness and swelling may not be obvious, and parents tend to ignore it until the disease progresses. If not treated in time, perianal abscess may further develop into anal fistula and become a long-term chronic problem.

Treatment of perianal abscess in children should be personalized according to the severity of the condition. If the symptoms are mild, local warm water sitz baths can be used under the guidance of a doctor to promote abscess absorption and improve blood circulation, and antibiotic treatment can be used to control infection, such as cephalosporins, amoxicillin or erythromycin. At the same time, strengthen care and change diapers frequently to keep the area dry and clean. In severe cases, surgical incision and drainage may be required to remove pus and reduce the risk of infection spread. Anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken after surgery and regular follow-up should be conducted. If some children have recurrent attacks, it may be related to low immunity. Immune function assessment should be performed and nutrition should be enhanced or immunomodulatory drugs should be used as recommended by the doctor.

To prevent perianal abscesses, parents should pay attention to their children's anal hygiene, wash and change diapers frequently, and avoid prolonged irritation of the skin by feces; when breastfeeding, mothers must pay attention to a balanced diet to prevent constipation or diarrhea in their children. It is also crucial to improve children's immunity, such as appropriate supplementation of fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges and kiwis, or foods rich in zinc such as lean meat and walnuts. When facing the disease, timely observation and early intervention by parents can effectively prevent the disease from getting worse. At the same time, they should also give their children more comfort and care to relieve their discomfort and anxiety caused by pain.