What is a perianal abscess in a child?

Perianal abscess in children usually presents with redness, swelling, lumps, pain and even pus discharge around the anus, accompanied by fever or crying and restlessness. Medical attention should be sought promptly to avoid worsening of the condition.

Perianal abscess is a disease caused by anal gland infection or bacterial invasion. Children are more sensitive to such infections because their immune systems are not yet mature. It manifests as obvious redness, swelling and tenderness of the local skin around the anus. The abscess may continue to gather to form small lumps, or burst on its own to ooze pus, which may emit a foul odor. Some infants and young children may also experience fever, irritability, and loss of appetite. The causes of perianal abscess usually include physiological characteristics (incomplete development of anal glands makes them susceptible to infection), environmental factors (unclean diapers or wipes irritate the skin), and poor hygiene habits (such as children staying wet for too long).

Treatment needs to be determined according to the severity of the condition. For mild perianal abscesses, doctors usually recommend warm water sitz baths for about 10 minutes each time, 2-3 times a day to help relieve swelling and promote local drainage; combined with topical antibiotic ointment to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation. If the abscess has formed a large accumulation of pus, a minor surgery may be required for incision and drainage to completely eliminate the infection. After surgery, oral antibiotics such as cephalosporins can be taken according to the doctor's orders to control the spread of infection. Severe and recurrent cases may require further examinations or even anal fistula repair surgery to solve the root problem. Parents also need to keep the child's affected area clean and regularly change clean diapers or underwear for them to prevent the skin from being infected again.

Once parents find that their children have abnormalities around the anus, especially when there are obvious symptoms of abscess, they should not delay or handle it on their own. They should go to a professional hospital for examination and treatment in time. At the same time, daily care should pay attention to the child's balanced diet, avoid spicy and irritating foods, increase dietary fiber intake, ensure that the child's digestive system is unobstructed; change diapers frequently, keep the anus clean and dry, and provide the best barrier to prevent perianal abscesses. Scientific and patient care is the best gift for children's health.