Babies can’t talk, and every time they cry, it touches their parents’ hearts. There are many common causes of infant crying, and one perianal disease, perianal abscess, often causes babies to cry but is not easily detected early by parents. If not seen in time, perianal abscesses can cause serious infection or break down to form an anal fistula, which can be prolonged and cause pain to both baby and parent. Perianal abscess, referred to as “perianal abscess”, is an acute purulent infection in the soft tissues around the rectum and anal canal or its surrounding space, and forms an abscess. A perianal abscess is a granulomatous duct that connects the anal canal or rectum to the perianal skin after the perianal abscess breaks down on its own or after surgical incision. 1.What are the causes of pediatric perianal abscess formation? Children (especially newborns and infants less than 3 months old) have delicate perianal skin and rectal mucosa, immature local immune function and imperfect mucosal barrier function, which are easily damaged by dry stool, partially impregnated urine or rough diapers and other factors, and pathogenic bacteria infect the anal glands and even form abscesses. A small number of perianal infections can be caused by trauma, inflammatory lesions of the rectum and anal canal or improper injection of drugs secondary to infection. 2, is perianal abscess and anal fistula the same thing? Most pediatric anal fistulas originate from perianal abscesses, but can also be caused by intestinal infections that penetrate the intestinal wall or by trauma. The abscess breaks down on its own or is incised and drained to form the external mouth of the fistula, which is located on the perianal skin. Most perianal abscesses in infants and children are superficial subcutaneous abscesses. It is generally believed that perianal abscess is an acute manifestation of perianal rectal inflammation, while anal fistula is its chronic manifestation. 3.What are the symptoms of perianal abscess? How to detect it early? Perianal abscesses in infants and children mostly develop within 1-2 months after birth, and are more common in male infants, who often have a history of diarrhea or constipation before the onset. Infants often have local pain due to perianal abscess, and at this time they show unexplained crying and restlessness, especially in supine position or during defecation, and some of them have symptoms such as refusal to breastfeed, loss of appetite, and lack of energy, which may be accompanied by fever. Older children may complain of pain around the anus, which is aggravated by walking or defecation, reluctance to sit, or sitting on the healthy side of the buttocks, preference for the healthy side of the body, and bending the legs in the prone position. The skin temperature of the red and swollen area is high, and the pain is obvious to the touch. The red and swollen area is hard at the beginning, but later it becomes soft in the center and appears to fluctuate. Once the above symptoms appear, it is recommended to go to the hospital as soon as possible for further examination to clarify the diagnosis and timely treatment. Parents are advised to carefully observe the anal condition when cleaning the anus of their infants after defecation every day, and to think about the possibility of the disease when the infant cries during defecation so as not to delay the condition. 4.Does a perianal abscess in a child necessarily form an anal fistula? The symptoms of perianal abscesses in children, especially newborns and small infants, will soon be reduced after they break down or cut open to drain the pus. Some children will have recurrent episodes, irregular discharge from the external mouth, the formation of anal fistula, or poor drainage at the anal fistula again formed abscess. 5, pediatric anal fistula must be operated? The actual fact is that you can find a lot of people who are not able to get a good deal on a lot of things. In addition, to keep the stool open and local dry and clean, diapers should be soft, breathable, wash and change regularly. Some superficial anal fistulas can be gradually absorbed or in a resting state without inflammatory manifestations, so surgery can be suspended and good care can be provided. If a chronic fistula is formed 3-6 months after the acute inflammatory period, with repeated local redness and swelling and intermittent pus flow, surgery is required. Anal fistula surgery needs to be performed when the age and physical condition of the child is appropriate, and it is not advisable to perform anal fistula surgery on newborns and small infants with weak sphincter muscles and fistulas that have not yet formed and only drain pus. 6, how to prevent the occurrence of perianal abscess? Try to prevent diarrhea and constipation in infants. Breastfeeding to strengthen the baby’s resistance and prevent constipation. In case of diarrhea and constipation, make sure to take care of the anus, wash it with warm water after pooping, keep it dry and clean, and wash the urine stains in time. Choose soft and breathable diapers and change them regularly.